Publications

" Our main objective is to develop and maintain over time a good expertise and infrastructure ensuring high quality training and clinical research."
Prof Halidou TINTO, PharmD, Msc, PhD Head of the CRUN

33 entries « ‹ 1 of 2 › »

2022
Journal Articles
	Palwende Romuald Boua, Jean-Tristan Brandenburg, Ananyo Choudhury, Hermann Sorgho, Engelbert A. Nonterah, Godfred Agongo, Gershim Asiki, Lisa Micklesfield, Solomon Choma, Francesc Xavier Gómez-Olivé, Scott Hazelhurst, Halidou Tinto, Nigel J. Crowther, Christopher G. Mathew, Michèle Ramsay Genetic associations with carotid intima-media thickness link to atherosclerosis with sex-specific effects in sub-Saharan Africans. (Journal Article) In: Nature communications, vol. 13, iss. 1, pp. 855, 2022. (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Adult, Africa South of the Sahara, Atherosclerosis/genetics/pathology, Autoantigens/genetics, Cardiovascular Diseases/genetics, Carotid Intima-Media Thickness/statistics & numerical data, Endocrine-Gland-Derived/genetics, Female, Gastrointestinal Hormones/genetics, Genetic Predisposition to Disease/genetics, Genome/genetics, Histones/genetics, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Polymorphism, Ribonucleoproteins/genetics, Sex Factors, Single Nucleotide/genetics, Sorting Nexins/genetics, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) Close @article{Boua2022, title = {Genetic associations with carotid intima-media thickness link to atherosclerosis with sex-specific effects in sub-Saharan Africans.}, author = {Palwende Romuald Boua and Jean-Tristan Brandenburg and Ananyo Choudhury and Hermann Sorgho and Engelbert A. Nonterah and Godfred Agongo and Gershim Asiki and Lisa Micklesfield and Solomon Choma and Francesc Xavier G\'{o}mez-Oliv\'{e} and Scott Hazelhurst and Halidou Tinto and Nigel J. Crowther and Christopher G. Mathew and Mich\`{e}le Ramsay}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-022-28276-x}, year = {2022}, date = {2022-02-01}, urldate = {2022-02-01}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {13}, issue = {1}, pages = {855}, abstract = {Atherosclerosis precedes the onset of clinical manifestations of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We used carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) to investigate genetic susceptibility to atherosclerosis in 7894 unrelated adults (3963 women, 3931 men; 40 to 60 years) resident in four sub-Saharan African countries. cIMT was measured by ultrasound and genotyping was performed on the H3Africa SNP Array. Two new African-specific genome-wide significant loci for mean-max cIMT, SIRPA (p = 4.7E-08), and FBXL17 (p = 2.5E-08), were identified. Sex-stratified analysis revealed associations with one male-specific locus, SNX29 (p = 6.3E-09), and two female-specific loci, LARP6 (p = 2.4E-09) and PROK1 (p = 1.0E-08). We replicate previous cIMT associations with different lead SNPs in linkage disequilibrium with SNPs primarily identified in European populations. Our study find significant enrichment for genes involved in oestrogen response from female-specific signals. The genes identified show biological relevance to atherosclerosis and/or CVDs, sex-differences and transferability of signals from non-African studies.}, keywords = {Adult, Africa South of the Sahara, Atherosclerosis/genetics/pathology, Autoantigens/genetics, Cardiovascular Diseases/genetics, Carotid Intima-Media Thickness/statistics \& numerical data, Endocrine-Gland-Derived/genetics, Female, Gastrointestinal Hormones/genetics, Genetic Predisposition to Disease/genetics, Genome/genetics, Histones/genetics, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Polymorphism, Ribonucleoproteins/genetics, Sex Factors, Single Nucleotide/genetics, Sorting Nexins/genetics, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close Atherosclerosis precedes the onset of clinical manifestations of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We used carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) to investigate genetic susceptibility to atherosclerosis in 7894 unrelated adults (3963 women, 3931 men; 40 to 60 years) resident in four sub-Saharan African countries. cIMT was measured by ultrasound and genotyping was performed on the H3Africa SNP Array. Two new African-specific genome-wide significant loci for mean-max cIMT, SIRPA (p = 4.7E-08), and FBXL17 (p = 2.5E-08), were identified. Sex-stratified analysis revealed associations with one male-specific locus, SNX29 (p = 6.3E-09), and two female-specific loci, LARP6 (p = 2.4E-09) and PROK1 (p = 1.0E-08). We replicate previous cIMT associations with different lead SNPs in linkage disequilibrium with SNPs primarily identified in European populations. Our study find significant enrichment for genes involved in oestrogen response from female-specific signals. The genes identified show biological relevance to atherosclerosis and/or CVDs, sex-differences and transferability of signals from non-African studies. Close doi:10.1038/s41467-022-28276-x Close
	Jane Grant, Issaka Sagara, Issaka Zongo, Matthew Cairns, Rakiswendé Serge Yerbanga, Modibo Diarra, Charles Zoungrana, Djibrilla Issiaka, Frédéric Nikièma, Frédéric Sompougdou, Amadou Tapily, Mahamadou Kaya, Alassane Haro, Koualy Sanogo, Abdoul Aziz Sienou, Seydou Traore, Ismaila Thera, Hama Yalcouye, Irene Kuepfer, Paul Snell, Paul Milligan, Christian Ockenhouse, Opokua Ofori-Anyinam, Halidou Tinto, Abdoulaye Djimde, Daniel Chandramohan, Brian Greenwood, Alassane Dicko, Jean-Bosco Ouédraogo Impact of seasonal RTS,S/AS01(E) vaccination plus seasonal malaria chemoprevention on the nutritional status of children in Burkina Faso and Mali. (Journal Article) In: Malaria journal, vol. 21, iss. 1, pp. 59, 2022. (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Antimalarials/therapeutic use, Malaria/drug therapy/epidemiology/prevention & control, Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Chemoprevention, Child, Cross-Sectional Studies, Humans, Infant, Malaria, Mali, Mali/epidemiology, Nutrition, Nutritional Status, Preschool, RTS, S/AS01E, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, Seasons, Vaccination) Close @article{Grant2022, title = {Impact of seasonal RTS,S/AS01(E) vaccination plus seasonal malaria chemoprevention on the nutritional status of children in Burkina Faso and Mali.}, author = {Jane Grant and Issaka Sagara and Issaka Zongo and Matthew Cairns and Rakiswend\'{e} Serge Yerbanga and Modibo Diarra and Charles Zoungrana and Djibrilla Issiaka and Fr\'{e}d\'{e}ric Niki\`{e}ma and Fr\'{e}d\'{e}ric Sompougdou and Amadou Tapily and Mahamadou Kaya and Alassane Haro and Koualy Sanogo and Abdoul Aziz Sienou and Seydou Traore and Ismaila Thera and Hama Yalcouye and Irene Kuepfer and Paul Snell and Paul Milligan and Christian Ockenhouse and Opokua Ofori-Anyinam and Halidou Tinto and Abdoulaye Djimde and Daniel Chandramohan and Brian Greenwood and Alassane Dicko and Jean-Bosco Ou\'{e}draogo}, doi = {10.1186/s12936-022-04077-x}, year = {2022}, date = {2022-02-01}, urldate = {2022-02-01}, journal = {Malaria journal}, volume = {21}, issue = {1}, pages = {59}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: A recent trial in Burkina Faso and Mali showed that combining seasonal RTS,S/AS01(E) malaria vaccination with seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) substantially reduced the incidence of uncomplicated and severe malaria in young children compared to either intervention alone. Given the possible negative effect of malaria on nutrition, the study investigated whether these children also experienced lower prevalence of acute and chronic malnutrition. METHODS: In Burkina Faso and Mali 5920 children were randomized to receive either SMC alone, RTS,S/AS01(E) alone, or SMC combined with RTS,S/AS01(E) for three malaria transmission seasons (2017-2019). After each transmission season, anthropometric measurements were collected from all study children at a cross-sectional survey and used to derive nutritional status indicators, including the binary variables wasted and stunted (weight-for-height and height-for-age z-scores below - 2, respectively). Binary and continuous outcomes between treatment groups were compared by Poisson and linear regression. RESULTS: In 2017, compared to SMC alone, the combined intervention reduced the prevalence of wasting by approximately 12% [prevalence ratio (PR) = 0.88 (95% CI 0.75, 1.03)], and approximately 21% in 2018 [PR = 0.79 (95% CI 0.62, 1.01)]. Point estimates were similar for comparisons with RTS,S/AS01(E), but there was stronger evidence of a difference. There was at least a 30% reduction in the point estimates for the prevalence of severe wasting in the combined group compared to the other two groups in 2017 and 2018. There was no difference in the prevalence of moderate or severe wasting between the groups in 2019. The prevalence of stunting, low-MUAC-for-age or being underweight did not differ between groups for any of the three years. The prevalence of severe stunting was higher in the combined group compared to both other groups in 2018, and compared to RTS,S/AS01(E) alone in 2017; this observation does not have an obvious explanation and may be a chance finding. Overall, malnutrition was very common in this cohort, but declined over the study as the children became older. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a high burden of malnutrition and malaria in the study populations, and a major reduction in the incidence of malaria in children receiving both interventions, this had only a modest impact on nutritional status. Therefore, other interventions are needed to reduce the high burden of malnutrition in these areas. TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03143218 , registered 8th May 2017.}, keywords = {Antimalarials/therapeutic use, Malaria/drug therapy/epidemiology/prevention \& control, Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Chemoprevention, Child, Cross-Sectional Studies, Humans, Infant, Malaria, Mali, Mali/epidemiology, Nutrition, Nutritional Status, Preschool, RTS, S/AS01E, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, Seasons, Vaccination}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: A recent trial in Burkina Faso and Mali showed that combining seasonal RTS,S/AS01(E) malaria vaccination with seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) substantially reduced the incidence of uncomplicated and severe malaria in young children compared to either intervention alone. Given the possible negative effect of malaria on nutrition, the study investigated whether these children also experienced lower prevalence of acute and chronic malnutrition. METHODS: In Burkina Faso and Mali 5920 children were randomized to receive either SMC alone, RTS,S/AS01(E) alone, or SMC combined with RTS,S/AS01(E) for three malaria transmission seasons (2017-2019). After each transmission season, anthropometric measurements were collected from all study children at a cross-sectional survey and used to derive nutritional status indicators, including the binary variables wasted and stunted (weight-for-height and height-for-age z-scores below – 2, respectively). Binary and continuous outcomes between treatment groups were compared by Poisson and linear regression. RESULTS: In 2017, compared to SMC alone, the combined intervention reduced the prevalence of wasting by approximately 12% [prevalence ratio (PR) = 0.88 (95% CI 0.75, 1.03)], and approximately 21% in 2018 [PR = 0.79 (95% CI 0.62, 1.01)]. Point estimates were similar for comparisons with RTS,S/AS01(E), but there was stronger evidence of a difference. There was at least a 30% reduction in the point estimates for the prevalence of severe wasting in the combined group compared to the other two groups in 2017 and 2018. There was no difference in the prevalence of moderate or severe wasting between the groups in 2019. The prevalence of stunting, low-MUAC-for-age or being underweight did not differ between groups for any of the three years. The prevalence of severe stunting was higher in the combined group compared to both other groups in 2018, and compared to RTS,S/AS01(E) alone in 2017; this observation does not have an obvious explanation and may be a chance finding. Overall, malnutrition was very common in this cohort, but declined over the study as the children became older. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a high burden of malnutrition and malaria in the study populations, and a major reduction in the incidence of malaria in children receiving both interventions, this had only a modest impact on nutritional status. Therefore, other interventions are needed to reduce the high burden of malnutrition in these areas. TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03143218 , registered 8th May 2017. Close doi:10.1186/s12936-022-04077-x Close
	Estomih Mduma, Tinto Halidou, Berenger Kaboré, Thomas Walongo, Palpouguini Lompo, Justine Museveni, Joshua Gidabayda, Jean Gratz, Godfrey Guga, Caroline Kimathi, Jie Liu, Paschal Mdoe, Robert Moshiro, Max Petzold, Jan Singlovic, Martine Guillerm, Melba F. Gomes, Eric R. Houpt, Christine M. Halleux Etiology of severe invasive infections in young infants in rural settings in sub-Saharan Africa. (Journal Article) In: PloS one, vol. 17, iss. 2, pp. e0264322, 2022. (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Rural Population, Africa South of the Sahara/epidemiology, Bacterial Infections/epidemiology/etiology/microbiology, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Newborn, Patient Acuity) Close @article{Mduma2022, title = {Etiology of severe invasive infections in young infants in rural settings in sub-Saharan Africa.}, author = {Estomih Mduma and Tinto Halidou and Berenger Kabor\'{e} and Thomas Walongo and Palpouguini Lompo and Justine Museveni and Joshua Gidabayda and Jean Gratz and Godfrey Guga and Caroline Kimathi and Jie Liu and Paschal Mdoe and Robert Moshiro and Max Petzold and Jan Singlovic and Martine Guillerm and Melba F. Gomes and Eric R. Houpt and Christine M. Halleux}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0264322}, year = {2022}, date = {2022-01-01}, urldate = {2022-01-01}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {17}, issue = {2}, pages = {e0264322}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Serious invasive infections in newborns are a major cause of death. Lack of data on etiological causes hampers progress towards reduction of mortality. This study aimed to identify pathogens responsible for such infections in young infants in sub-Saharan Africa and to describe their antibiotics resistance profile. METHODS: Between September 2016 and April 2018 we implemented an observational study in two rural sites in Burkina Faso and Tanzania enrolling young infants aged 0-59 days old with serious invasive infection. Blood samples underwent blood culture and molecular biology. RESULTS: In total 634 infants with clinical diagnosis of serious invasive infection were enrolled and 4.2% of the infants had a positive blood culture. The most frequent pathogens identified by blood culture were Klebsiella pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus, followed by Escherichia coli. Gram-negative isolates were only partially susceptible to first line WHO recommended treatment for neonatal sepsis at community level. A total of 18.6% of the infants were PCR positive for at least one pathogen and Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were the most common bacteria detected. Among infants enrolled, 60/634 (9.5%) died. Positive blood culture but not positive PCR was associated with risk of death. For most deaths, no pathogen was identified either by blood culture or molecular testing, and hence a causal agent remained unclear. Mortality was associated with low body temperature, tachycardia, respiratory symptoms, convulsions, history of difficult feeding, movement only when stimulated or reduced level of consciousness, diarrhea and/or vomiting. CONCLUSION: While Klebsiella pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as Escherichia coli were pathogens most frequently identified in infants with clinical suspicion of serious invasive infections, most cases remain without definite diagnosis, making more accurate diagnostic tools urgently needed. Antibiotics resistance to first line antibiotics is an increasing challenge even in rural Africa.}, keywords = {Rural Population, Africa South of the Sahara/epidemiology, Bacterial Infections/epidemiology/etiology/microbiology, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Newborn, Patient Acuity}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: Serious invasive infections in newborns are a major cause of death. Lack of data on etiological causes hampers progress towards reduction of mortality. This study aimed to identify pathogens responsible for such infections in young infants in sub-Saharan Africa and to describe their antibiotics resistance profile. METHODS: Between September 2016 and April 2018 we implemented an observational study in two rural sites in Burkina Faso and Tanzania enrolling young infants aged 0-59 days old with serious invasive infection. Blood samples underwent blood culture and molecular biology. RESULTS: In total 634 infants with clinical diagnosis of serious invasive infection were enrolled and 4.2% of the infants had a positive blood culture. The most frequent pathogens identified by blood culture were Klebsiella pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus, followed by Escherichia coli. Gram-negative isolates were only partially susceptible to first line WHO recommended treatment for neonatal sepsis at community level. A total of 18.6% of the infants were PCR positive for at least one pathogen and Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were the most common bacteria detected. Among infants enrolled, 60/634 (9.5%) died. Positive blood culture but not positive PCR was associated with risk of death. For most deaths, no pathogen was identified either by blood culture or molecular testing, and hence a causal agent remained unclear. Mortality was associated with low body temperature, tachycardia, respiratory symptoms, convulsions, history of difficult feeding, movement only when stimulated or reduced level of consciousness, diarrhea and/or vomiting. CONCLUSION: While Klebsiella pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as Escherichia coli were pathogens most frequently identified in infants with clinical suspicion of serious invasive infections, most cases remain without definite diagnosis, making more accurate diagnostic tools urgently needed. Antibiotics resistance to first line antibiotics is an increasing challenge even in rural Africa. Close doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0264322 Close
	Liesbeth Martens, Bérenger Kaboré, Annelies Post, Christa E. Gaast-de Jongh, Jeroen D. Langereis, Halidou Tinto, Jan Jacobs, André J. Ven, Quirijn Mast, Marien I. Jonge Nasopharyngeal colonisation dynamics of bacterial pathogens in patients with fever in rural Burkina Faso: an observational study. (Journal Article) In: BMC infectious diseases, vol. 22, iss. 1, pp. 15, 2022. (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Carrier State/epidemiology, Staphylococcus aureus, Adult, Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Child, Female, Haemophilus influenzae, Humans, Infant, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Male, Moraxella catarrhalis, Nasopharyngeal carriage, Nasopharynx, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae) Close @article{Martens2022, title = {Nasopharyngeal colonisation dynamics of bacterial pathogens in patients with fever in rural Burkina Faso: an observational study.}, author = {Liesbeth Martens and B\'{e}renger Kabor\'{e} and Annelies Post and Christa E. Gaast-de Jongh and Jeroen D. Langereis and Halidou Tinto and Jan Jacobs and Andr\'{e} J. Ven and Quirijn Mast and Marien I. Jonge}, doi = {10.1186/s12879-021-06996-7}, year = {2022}, date = {2022-01-01}, urldate = {2022-01-01}, journal = {BMC infectious diseases}, volume = {22}, issue = {1}, pages = {15}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal colonisation with clinically relevant bacterial pathogens is a risk factor for severe infections, such as pneumonia and bacteraemia. In this study, we investigated the determinants of nasopharyngeal carriage in febrile patients in rural Burkina Faso. METHODS: From March 2016 to June 2017, we recruited 924 paediatric and adult patients presenting with fever, hypothermia or suspicion of severe infection to the Centre Medical avec Antenne Chirurgicale Saint Camille de Nanoro, Burkina Faso. We recorded a broad range of clinical data, collected nasopharyngeal swabs and tested them for the presence of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Using logistic regression, we investigated the determinants of carriage and aimed to find correlations with clinical outcome. RESULTS: Nasopharyngeal colonisation with S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis was highly prevalent and strongly dependent on age and season. Females were less likely to be colonised with S. pneumoniae (OR 0.71}, keywords = {Carrier State/epidemiology, Staphylococcus aureus, Adult, Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Child, Female, Haemophilus influenzae, Humans, Infant, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Male, Moraxella catarrhalis, Nasopharyngeal carriage, Nasopharynx, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal colonisation with clinically relevant bacterial pathogens is a risk factor for severe infections, such as pneumonia and bacteraemia. In this study, we investigated the determinants of nasopharyngeal carriage in febrile patients in rural Burkina Faso. METHODS: From March 2016 to June 2017, we recruited 924 paediatric and adult patients presenting with fever, hypothermia or suspicion of severe infection to the Centre Medical avec Antenne Chirurgicale Saint Camille de Nanoro, Burkina Faso. We recorded a broad range of clinical data, collected nasopharyngeal swabs and tested them for the presence of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Using logistic regression, we investigated the determinants of carriage and aimed to find correlations with clinical outcome. RESULTS: Nasopharyngeal colonisation with S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis was highly prevalent and strongly dependent on age and season. Females were less likely to be colonised with S. pneumoniae (OR 0.71 Close doi:10.1186/s12879-021-06996-7 Close
2021
Journal Articles
	Rafael Dal-Ré, Linda-Gail Bekker, Christian Gluud, Søren Holm, Vivekanand Jha, Gregory A Poland, Frits R Rosendaal, Brigitte Schwarzer-Daum, Esperanc ca Sevene, Halidou Tinto, Teck Chuan Voo, Nadarajah Sreeharan Ongoing and future COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials: challenges and opportunities (Journal Article) In: Lancet Infect. Dis., vol. 21, no. 11, pp. e342–e347, 2021, ISSN: 1474-4457 1473-3099, (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. PMID: 34019801 PMCID: PMC8131060). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Clinical Trials as Topic, COVID-19 Vaccines/administration & dosage/immunology, COVID-19/epidemiology/immunology/prevention & control/virology, Double-Blind Method, Humans, Immunogenicity, Pandemics/prevention & control, SARS-CoV-2/immunology, Vaccine) Close @article{Dal-Re2021-mr, title = {Ongoing and future COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials: challenges and opportunities}, author = {Rafael Dal-R\'{e} and Linda-Gail Bekker and Christian Gluud and S\oren Holm and Vivekanand Jha and Gregory A Poland and Frits R Rosendaal and Brigitte Schwarzer-Daum and Esperanc ca Sevene and Halidou Tinto and Teck Chuan Voo and Nadarajah Sreeharan}, doi = {10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00263-2}, issn = {1474-4457 1473-3099}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-11-01}, urldate = {2021-11-01}, journal = {Lancet Infect. Dis.}, volume = {21}, number = {11}, pages = {e342--e347}, abstract = {Large-scale deployment of COVID-19 vaccines will seriously affect the ongoing phases 2 and 3 randomised placebo-controlled trials assessing SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates. The effect will be particularly acute in high-income countries where the entire adult or older population could be vaccinated by late 2021. Regrettably, only a small proportion of the population in many low-income and middle-income countries will have access to available vaccines. Sponsors of COVID-19 vaccine candidates currently in phase 2 or initiating phase 3 trials in 2021 should consider continuing the research in countries with limited affordability and availability of COVID-19 vaccines. Several ethical principles must be implemented to ensure the equitable, non-exploitative, and respectful conduct of trials in resource-poor settings. Once sufficient knowledge on the immunogenicity response to COVID-19 vaccines is acquired, non-inferiority immunogenicity trials-comparing the immune response of a vaccine candidate to that of an authorised vaccine-would probably be the most common trial design. Until then, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover trials will continue to play a role in the development of new vaccine candidates. WHO or the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences should define an ethical framework for the requirements and benefits for trial participants and host communities in resource-poor settings that should require commitment from all vaccine candidate sponsors from high-income countries.}, note = {Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. PMID: 34019801 PMCID: PMC8131060}, keywords = {Clinical Trials as Topic, COVID-19 Vaccines/administration \& dosage/immunology, COVID-19/epidemiology/immunology/prevention \& control/virology, Double-Blind Method, Humans, Immunogenicity, Pandemics/prevention \& control, SARS-CoV-2/immunology, Vaccine}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close Large-scale deployment of COVID-19 vaccines will seriously affect the ongoing phases 2 and 3 randomised placebo-controlled trials assessing SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates. The effect will be particularly acute in high-income countries where the entire adult or older population could be vaccinated by late 2021. Regrettably, only a small proportion of the population in many low-income and middle-income countries will have access to available vaccines. Sponsors of COVID-19 vaccine candidates currently in phase 2 or initiating phase 3 trials in 2021 should consider continuing the research in countries with limited affordability and availability of COVID-19 vaccines. Several ethical principles must be implemented to ensure the equitable, non-exploitative, and respectful conduct of trials in resource-poor settings. Once sufficient knowledge on the immunogenicity response to COVID-19 vaccines is acquired, non-inferiority immunogenicity trials-comparing the immune response of a vaccine candidate to that of an authorised vaccine-would probably be the most common trial design. Until then, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover trials will continue to play a role in the development of new vaccine candidates. WHO or the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences should define an ethical framework for the requirements and benefits for trial participants and host communities in resource-poor settings that should require commitment from all vaccine candidate sponsors from high-income countries. Close doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00263-2 Close
	Serge Ouoba, Jean Claude Romaric Pingdwinde Ouedraogo, Moussa Lingani, Bunthen E, Md Razeen Ashraf Hussain, Ko Ko, Shintaro Nagashima, Aya Sugiyama, Tomoyuki Akita, Halidou Tinto, Junko Tanaka Epidemiologic profile of hepatitis C virus infection and genotype distribution in Burkina Faso: a systematic review with meta-analysis (Journal Article) In: BMC Infect. Dis., vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 1126, 2021, ISSN: 1471-2334, (© 2021. The Author(s). PMID: 34724902 PMCID: PMC8561994). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Genotype, Hepacivirus/genetics, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis C/epidemiology, Humans, Prevalence, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Seroprevalence, Systematic review) Close @article{Ouoba2021-ug, title = {Epidemiologic profile of hepatitis C virus infection and genotype distribution in Burkina Faso: a systematic review with meta-analysis}, author = {Serge Ouoba and Jean Claude Romaric Pingdwinde Ouedraogo and Moussa Lingani and Bunthen E and Md Razeen Ashraf Hussain and Ko Ko and Shintaro Nagashima and Aya Sugiyama and Tomoyuki Akita and Halidou Tinto and Junko Tanaka}, doi = {10.1186/s12879-021-06817-x}, issn = {1471-2334}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-11-01}, urldate = {2021-11-01}, journal = {BMC Infect. Dis.}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {1126}, publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Detailed characteristics of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Burkina Faso are scarce. The main aim of this study was to assess HCV seroprevalence in various settings and populations at risk in Burkina Faso between 1990 and 2020. Secondary objectives included the prevalence of HCV Ribonucleic acid (RNA) and the distribution of HCV genotypes. METHODS: A systematic database search, supplemented by a manual search, was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and African Index Medicus. Studies reporting HCV seroprevalence data in low and high-risk populations in Burkina Faso were included, and a random-effects meta-analysis was applied. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs institute checklist. RESULTS: Low-risk populations were examined in 31 studies involving a total of 168,151 subjects, of whom 8330 were positive for HCV antibodies. Six studies included a total of 1484 high-risk persons, and 96 had antibodies to HCV. The pooled seroprevalence in low-risk populations was 3.72% (95% CI: 3.20-4.28) and 4.75% (95% CI: 1.79-8.94) in high-risk groups. A non-significant decreasing trend was observed over the study period. Seven studies tested HCV RNA in a total of 4759 individuals at low risk for HCV infection, and 81 were positive. The meta-analysis of HCV RNA yielded a pooled prevalence of 1.65% (95% CI: 0.74-2.89%) in low-risk populations, which is assumed to be indicative of HCV prevalence in the general population of Burkina Faso and suggests that about 301,174 people are active HCV carriers in the country. Genotypes 2 and 1 were the most frequent, with 60.3% and 25.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: HCV seroprevalence is intermediate in Burkina Faso and indicates the need to implement effective control strategies. There is a paucity of data at the national level and for rural and high-risk populations. General population screening and linkage to care are recommended, with special attention to rural and high-risk populations.}, note = {© 2021. The Author(s). PMID: 34724902 PMCID: PMC8561994}, keywords = {Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Genotype, Hepacivirus/genetics, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis C/epidemiology, Humans, Prevalence, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Seroprevalence, Systematic review}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: Detailed characteristics of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Burkina Faso are scarce. The main aim of this study was to assess HCV seroprevalence in various settings and populations at risk in Burkina Faso between 1990 and 2020. Secondary objectives included the prevalence of HCV Ribonucleic acid (RNA) and the distribution of HCV genotypes. METHODS: A systematic database search, supplemented by a manual search, was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and African Index Medicus. Studies reporting HCV seroprevalence data in low and high-risk populations in Burkina Faso were included, and a random-effects meta-analysis was applied. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs institute checklist. RESULTS: Low-risk populations were examined in 31 studies involving a total of 168,151 subjects, of whom 8330 were positive for HCV antibodies. Six studies included a total of 1484 high-risk persons, and 96 had antibodies to HCV. The pooled seroprevalence in low-risk populations was 3.72% (95% CI: 3.20-4.28) and 4.75% (95% CI: 1.79-8.94) in high-risk groups. A non-significant decreasing trend was observed over the study period. Seven studies tested HCV RNA in a total of 4759 individuals at low risk for HCV infection, and 81 were positive. The meta-analysis of HCV RNA yielded a pooled prevalence of 1.65% (95% CI: 0.74-2.89%) in low-risk populations, which is assumed to be indicative of HCV prevalence in the general population of Burkina Faso and suggests that about 301,174 people are active HCV carriers in the country. Genotypes 2 and 1 were the most frequent, with 60.3% and 25.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: HCV seroprevalence is intermediate in Burkina Faso and indicates the need to implement effective control strategies. There is a paucity of data at the national level and for rural and high-risk populations. General population screening and linkage to care are recommended, with special attention to rural and high-risk populations. Close doi:10.1186/s12879-021-06817-x Close
	Mphatso Dennis Phiri, Matthew Cairns, Issaka Zongo, Frederic Nikiema, Modibo Diarra, Rakiswendé Serge Yerbanga, Amadou Barry, Amadou Tapily, Samba Coumare, Ismaila Thera, Irene Kuepfer, Paul Milligan, Halidou Tinto, Alassane Dicko, Jean Bosco Ouédraogo, Brian Greenwood, Daniel Chandramohan, Issaka Sagara The duration of protection from azithromycin against malaria, acute respiratory, gastrointestinal, and skin infections when given alongside seasonal malaria chemoprevention: Secondary analyses of data from a clinical trial in houndé, Burkina Faso, and bougouni, Mali (Journal Article) In: Clin. Infect. Dis., vol. 73, no. 7, pp. e2379–e2386, 2021, ISSN: 1537-6591 1058-4838, (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. PMID: 33417683 PMCID: PMC8492219). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Antimalarials/therapeutic use, Azithromycin, Azithromycin/therapeutic use, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Chemoprevention, Child, child mortality, Drug Combinations, duration of protection, Humans, Infant, Malaria/drug therapy/epidemiology/prevention & control, Mali/epidemiology, Preschool, Sahel, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, Seasons) Close @article{Phiri2021-oy, title = {The duration of protection from azithromycin against malaria, acute respiratory, gastrointestinal, and skin infections when given alongside seasonal malaria chemoprevention: Secondary analyses of data from a clinical trial in hound\'{e}, Burkina Faso, and bougouni, Mali}, author = {Mphatso Dennis Phiri and Matthew Cairns and Issaka Zongo and Frederic Nikiema and Modibo Diarra and Rakiswend\'{e} Serge Yerbanga and Amadou Barry and Amadou Tapily and Samba Coumare and Ismaila Thera and Irene Kuepfer and Paul Milligan and Halidou Tinto and Alassane Dicko and Jean Bosco Ou\'{e}draogo and Brian Greenwood and Daniel Chandramohan and Issaka Sagara}, doi = {10.1093/cid/ciaa1905}, issn = {1537-6591 1058-4838}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-10-01}, urldate = {2021-10-01}, journal = {Clin. Infect. Dis.}, volume = {73}, number = {7}, pages = {e2379--e2386}, publisher = {Oxford University Press (OUP)}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Mass drug administration (MDA) with azithromycin (AZ) is being considered as a strategy to promote child survival in sub-Saharan Africa, but the mechanism by which AZ reduces mortality is unclear. To better understand the nature and extent of protection provided by AZ, we explored the profile of protection by time since administration, using data from a household-randomized, placebo-controlled trial in Burkina Faso and Mali. METHODS: Between 2014 and 2016, 30 977 children aged 3-59 months received seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine plus amodiaquine and either AZ or placebo monthly, on 4 occasions each year. Poisson regression with gamma-distributed random effects, accounting for the household randomization and within-individual clustering of illness episodes, was used to compare incidence of prespecified outcomes between SMC+AZ versus SMC+placebo groups in fixed time strata post-treatment. The likelihood ratio test was used to assess evidence for a time-treatment group interaction. RESULTS: Relative to SMC+placebo, there was no evidence of protection from SMC+AZ against hospital admissions and deaths. Additional protection from SMC+AZ against malaria was confined to the first 2 weeks post-administration (protective efficacy (PE): 24.2% [95% CI: 17.8%, 30.1%]). Gastroenteritis and pneumonia were reduced by 29.9% [21.7; 37.3%], and 34.3% [14.9; 49.3%], respectively, in the first 2 weeks postadministration. Protection against nonmalaria fevers with a skin condition persisted up to 28 days: PE: 46.3% [35.1; 55.6%]. CONCLUSIONS: The benefits of AZ-MDA are broad-ranging but short-lived. To maximize impact, timing of AZ-MDA must address the challenge of targeting asynchronous morbidity and mortality peaks from different causes.}, note = {© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. PMID: 33417683 PMCID: PMC8492219}, keywords = {Antimalarials/therapeutic use, Azithromycin, Azithromycin/therapeutic use, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Chemoprevention, Child, child mortality, Drug Combinations, duration of protection, Humans, Infant, Malaria/drug therapy/epidemiology/prevention \& control, Mali/epidemiology, Preschool, Sahel, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, Seasons}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: Mass drug administration (MDA) with azithromycin (AZ) is being considered as a strategy to promote child survival in sub-Saharan Africa, but the mechanism by which AZ reduces mortality is unclear. To better understand the nature and extent of protection provided by AZ, we explored the profile of protection by time since administration, using data from a household-randomized, placebo-controlled trial in Burkina Faso and Mali. METHODS: Between 2014 and 2016, 30 977 children aged 3-59 months received seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine plus amodiaquine and either AZ or placebo monthly, on 4 occasions each year. Poisson regression with gamma-distributed random effects, accounting for the household randomization and within-individual clustering of illness episodes, was used to compare incidence of prespecified outcomes between SMC+AZ versus SMC+placebo groups in fixed time strata post-treatment. The likelihood ratio test was used to assess evidence for a time-treatment group interaction. RESULTS: Relative to SMC+placebo, there was no evidence of protection from SMC+AZ against hospital admissions and deaths. Additional protection from SMC+AZ against malaria was confined to the first 2 weeks post-administration (protective efficacy (PE): 24.2% [95% CI: 17.8%, 30.1%]). Gastroenteritis and pneumonia were reduced by 29.9% [21.7; 37.3%], and 34.3% [14.9; 49.3%], respectively, in the first 2 weeks postadministration. Protection against nonmalaria fevers with a skin condition persisted up to 28 days: PE: 46.3% [35.1; 55.6%]. CONCLUSIONS: The benefits of AZ-MDA are broad-ranging but short-lived. To maximize impact, timing of AZ-MDA must address the challenge of targeting asynchronous morbidity and mortality peaks from different causes. Close doi:10.1093/cid/ciaa1905 Close
	Daniel Chandramohan, Issaka Zongo, Issaka Sagara, Matthew Cairns, Rakiswendé-Serge Yerbanga, Modibo Diarra, Frédéric Niki`ema, Amadou Tapily, Frédéric Sompougdou, Djibrilla Issiaka, Charles Zoungrana, Koualy Sanogo, Alassane Haro, Mahamadou Kaya, Abdoul-Aziz Sienou, Seydou Traore, Almahamoudou Mahamar, Ismaila Thera, Kalifa Diarra, Amagana Dolo, Irene Kuepfer, Paul Snell, Paul Milligan, Christian Ockenhouse, Opokua Ofori-Anyinam, Halidou Tinto, Abdoulaye Djimde, Jean-Bosco Ouédraogo, Alassane Dicko, Brian Greenwood Seasonal malaria vaccination with or without seasonal malaria chemoprevention (Journal Article) In: N. Engl. J. Med., vol. 385, no. 11, pp. 1005–1017, 2021, ISSN: 1533-4406 0028-4793, (Copyright © 2021 Massachusetts Medical Society. Place: United States PMID: 34432975). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Amodiaquine/therapeutic use, Antimalarials/adverse effects/therapeutic use, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Chemoprevention, Combination, Combined Modality Therapy, Double-Blind Method, Drug Combinations, Drug Therapy, Falciparum/epidemiology/mortality/prevention & control, Febrile/etiology, Female, Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data, Humans, Infant, Malaria, Malaria Vaccines/administration & dosage/adverse effects, Male, Mali/epidemiology, Pyrimethamine/therapeutic use, Seasons, Seizures, Sulfadoxine/therapeutic use) Close @article{Chandramohan2021-qm, title = {Seasonal malaria vaccination with or without seasonal malaria chemoprevention}, author = {Daniel Chandramohan and Issaka Zongo and Issaka Sagara and Matthew Cairns and Rakiswend\'{e}-Serge Yerbanga and Modibo Diarra and Fr\'{e}d\'{e}ric Niki`ema and Amadou Tapily and Fr\'{e}d\'{e}ric Sompougdou and Djibrilla Issiaka and Charles Zoungrana and Koualy Sanogo and Alassane Haro and Mahamadou Kaya and Abdoul-Aziz Sienou and Seydou Traore and Almahamoudou Mahamar and Ismaila Thera and Kalifa Diarra and Amagana Dolo and Irene Kuepfer and Paul Snell and Paul Milligan and Christian Ockenhouse and Opokua Ofori-Anyinam and Halidou Tinto and Abdoulaye Djimde and Jean-Bosco Ou\'{e}draogo and Alassane Dicko and Brian Greenwood}, doi = {10.1056/NEJMoa2026330}, issn = {1533-4406 0028-4793}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-09-09}, urldate = {2021-09-09}, journal = {N. Engl. J. Med.}, volume = {385}, number = {11}, pages = {1005--1017}, publisher = {Massachusetts Medical Society}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Malaria control remains a challenge in many parts of the Sahel and sub-Sahel regions of Africa. METHODS: We conducted an individually randomized, controlled trial to assess whether seasonal vaccination with RTS,S/AS01E was noninferior to chemoprevention in preventing uncomplicated malaria and whether the two interventions combined were superior to either one alone in preventing uncomplicated malaria and severe malaria-related outcomes. RESULTS: We randomly assigned 6861 children 5 to 17 months of age to receive sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and amodiaquine (2287 children [chemoprevention-alone group]), RTS,S/AS01E (2288 children [vaccine-alone group]), or chemoprevention and RTS,S/AS01E (2286 children [combination group]). Of these, 1965, 1988, and 1967 children in the three groups, respectively, received the first dose of the assigned intervention and were followed for 3 years. Febrile seizure developed in 5 children the day after receipt of the vaccine, but the children recovered and had no sequelae. There were 305 events of uncomplicated clinical malaria per 1000 person-years at risk in the chemoprevention-alone group, 278 events per 1000 person-years in the vaccine-alone group, and 113 events per 1000 person-years in the combination group. The hazard ratio for the protective efficacy of RTS,S/AS01E as compared with chemoprevention was 0.92 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84 to 1.01), which excluded the prespecified noninferiority margin of 1.20. The protective efficacy of the combination as compared with chemoprevention alone was 62.8% (95% CI, 58.4 to 66.8) against clinical malaria, 70.5% (95% CI, 41.9 to 85.0) against hospital admission with severe malaria according to the World Health Organization definition, and 72.9% (95% CI, 2.9 to 92.4) against death from malaria. The protective efficacy of the combination as compared with the vaccine alone against these outcomes was 59.6% (95% CI, 54.7 to 64.0), 70.6% (95% CI, 42.3 to 85.0), and 75.3% (95% CI, 12.5 to 93.0), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of RTS,S/AS01E was noninferior to chemoprevention in preventing uncomplicated malaria. The combination of these interventions resulted in a substantially lower incidence of uncomplicated malaria, severe malaria, and death from malaria than either intervention alone. (Funded by the Joint Global Health Trials and PATH; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03143218.).}, note = {Copyright © 2021 Massachusetts Medical Society. Place: United States PMID: 34432975}, keywords = {Amodiaquine/therapeutic use, Antimalarials/adverse effects/therapeutic use, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Chemoprevention, Combination, Combined Modality Therapy, Double-Blind Method, Drug Combinations, Drug Therapy, Falciparum/epidemiology/mortality/prevention \& control, Febrile/etiology, Female, Hospitalization/statistics \& numerical data, Humans, Infant, Malaria, Malaria Vaccines/administration \& dosage/adverse effects, Male, Mali/epidemiology, Pyrimethamine/therapeutic use, Seasons, Seizures, Sulfadoxine/therapeutic use}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: Malaria control remains a challenge in many parts of the Sahel and sub-Sahel regions of Africa. METHODS: We conducted an individually randomized, controlled trial to assess whether seasonal vaccination with RTS,S/AS01E was noninferior to chemoprevention in preventing uncomplicated malaria and whether the two interventions combined were superior to either one alone in preventing uncomplicated malaria and severe malaria-related outcomes. RESULTS: We randomly assigned 6861 children 5 to 17 months of age to receive sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and amodiaquine (2287 children [chemoprevention-alone group]), RTS,S/AS01E (2288 children [vaccine-alone group]), or chemoprevention and RTS,S/AS01E (2286 children [combination group]). Of these, 1965, 1988, and 1967 children in the three groups, respectively, received the first dose of the assigned intervention and were followed for 3 years. Febrile seizure developed in 5 children the day after receipt of the vaccine, but the children recovered and had no sequelae. There were 305 events of uncomplicated clinical malaria per 1000 person-years at risk in the chemoprevention-alone group, 278 events per 1000 person-years in the vaccine-alone group, and 113 events per 1000 person-years in the combination group. The hazard ratio for the protective efficacy of RTS,S/AS01E as compared with chemoprevention was 0.92 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84 to 1.01), which excluded the prespecified noninferiority margin of 1.20. The protective efficacy of the combination as compared with chemoprevention alone was 62.8% (95% CI, 58.4 to 66.8) against clinical malaria, 70.5% (95% CI, 41.9 to 85.0) against hospital admission with severe malaria according to the World Health Organization definition, and 72.9% (95% CI, 2.9 to 92.4) against death from malaria. The protective efficacy of the combination as compared with the vaccine alone against these outcomes was 59.6% (95% CI, 54.7 to 64.0), 70.6% (95% CI, 42.3 to 85.0), and 75.3% (95% CI, 12.5 to 93.0), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of RTS,S/AS01E was noninferior to chemoprevention in preventing uncomplicated malaria. The combination of these interventions resulted in a substantially lower incidence of uncomplicated malaria, severe malaria, and death from malaria than either intervention alone. (Funded by the Joint Global Health Trials and PATH; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03143218.). Close doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2026330 Close
	Isidore Tiandiogo Traoré, Samiratou Ouedraogo, Dramane Kania, Firmin Nongodo Kaboré, Blahima Konaté, Rachel Médah, Hermann Badolo, Nathalie Rekeneire, Ariane Mamguem Kamga, Armel Poda, Arnaud Eric Diendere, Boukary Ouédraogo, Esperance Ouédraogo, Oumar Billa, Halidou Tinto, Tienhan Sandrine Dabakuyo-Yonli COVID-19 epidemiological, sociological and anthropological investigation: study protocol for a multidisciplinary mixed methods research in Burkina Faso (Journal Article) In: BMC Infect. Dis., vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 896, 2021, ISSN: 1471-2334, (© 2021. The Author(s). PMID: 34479501 PMCID: PMC8414025). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Clinical epidemiology, COVID-19, Humans, Predictive score, Prospective Studies, Retrospective Studies, SARS-Cov-2, Sero-epidemiology, Socio-anthropology) Close @article{Traore2021-vr, title = {COVID-19 epidemiological, sociological and anthropological investigation: study protocol for a multidisciplinary mixed methods research in Burkina Faso}, author = {Isidore Tiandiogo Traor\'{e} and Samiratou Ouedraogo and Dramane Kania and Firmin Nongodo Kabor\'{e} and Blahima Konat\'{e} and Rachel M\'{e}dah and Hermann Badolo and Nathalie Rekeneire and Ariane Mamguem Kamga and Armel Poda and Arnaud Eric Diendere and Boukary Ou\'{e}draogo and Esperance Ou\'{e}draogo and Oumar Billa and Halidou Tinto and Tienhan Sandrine Dabakuyo-Yonli}, doi = {10.1186/s12879-021-06543-4}, issn = {1471-2334}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-09-03}, urldate = {2021-09-03}, journal = {BMC Infect. Dis.}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {896}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The world has high hopes of vaccination against COVID-19 to protect the population, boost economies and return to normal life. Vaccination programmes are being rolled out in high income countries, but the pandemic continues to progress in many low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) despite implementation of strict hygiene measures. We aim to present a comprehensive research protocol that will generate epidemiological, sociological and anthropological data about the COVID-19 epidemic in Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in West Africa with scarce resources. METHODS: We will perform a multidisciplinary research using mixed methods in the two main cities in Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso). Data will be collected in the general population and in COVID-19 patients, caregivers and health care professionals in reference care centers: (i) to determine cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the Burkinabe population using blood samples collected from randomly selected households according to the WHO-recommended protocol; (ii) develop a score to predict severe complications of COVID-19 in persons infected with SARS-CoV-2 using retrospective and prospective data; (iii) perform semi-structured interviews and direct observation on site, to describe and analyze the healthcare pathways and experiences of patients with COVID-19 attending reference care centers, and to identify the perceptions, acceptability and application of preventive strategies among the population. DISCUSSION: This study will generate comprehensive data that will contribute to improving COVID-19 response strategies in Burkina Faso. The lessons learned from the management of this epidemic may serve as examples to the country authorities to better design preventive strategies in the case of future epidemics or pandemics. The protocol was approved by the Ministry for Health (N° 2020-00952/MS/CAB/INSP/CM) and the Health Research Ethics Committee in Burkina Faso (N° 2020-8-140).}, note = {© 2021. The Author(s). PMID: 34479501 PMCID: PMC8414025}, keywords = {Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Clinical epidemiology, COVID-19, Humans, Predictive score, Prospective Studies, Retrospective Studies, SARS-Cov-2, Sero-epidemiology, Socio-anthropology}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: The world has high hopes of vaccination against COVID-19 to protect the population, boost economies and return to normal life. Vaccination programmes are being rolled out in high income countries, but the pandemic continues to progress in many low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) despite implementation of strict hygiene measures. We aim to present a comprehensive research protocol that will generate epidemiological, sociological and anthropological data about the COVID-19 epidemic in Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in West Africa with scarce resources. METHODS: We will perform a multidisciplinary research using mixed methods in the two main cities in Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso). Data will be collected in the general population and in COVID-19 patients, caregivers and health care professionals in reference care centers: (i) to determine cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the Burkinabe population using blood samples collected from randomly selected households according to the WHO-recommended protocol; (ii) develop a score to predict severe complications of COVID-19 in persons infected with SARS-CoV-2 using retrospective and prospective data; (iii) perform semi-structured interviews and direct observation on site, to describe and analyze the healthcare pathways and experiences of patients with COVID-19 attending reference care centers, and to identify the perceptions, acceptability and application of preventive strategies among the population. DISCUSSION: This study will generate comprehensive data that will contribute to improving COVID-19 response strategies in Burkina Faso. The lessons learned from the management of this epidemic may serve as examples to the country authorities to better design preventive strategies in the case of future epidemics or pandemics. The protocol was approved by the Ministry for Health (N° 2020-00952/MS/CAB/INSP/CM) and the Health Research Ethics Committee in Burkina Faso (N° 2020-8-140). Close doi:10.1186/s12879-021-06543-4 Close
	Stephen A Roberts, Loretta Brabin, Halidou Tinto, Sabine Gies, Salou Diallo, Bernard Brabin Seasonal patterns of malaria, genital infection, nutritional and iron status in non-pregnant and pregnant adolescents in Burkina Faso: a secondary analysis of trial data (Journal Article) In: BMC Public Health, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 1764, 2021, ISSN: 1471-2458, (© 2021. The Author(s). PMID: 34579679 PMCID: PMC8477466). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Abnormal vaginal flora, Adolescents, Bacterial vaginosis, Body Mass Index, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Child, Female, Humans, Iron, iron biomarkers, Malaria, Malaria/drug therapy/epidemiology, MUAC, Pregnancy, Seasons, Vagina) Close @article{Roberts2021-gg, title = {Seasonal patterns of malaria, genital infection, nutritional and iron status in non-pregnant and pregnant adolescents in Burkina Faso: a secondary analysis of trial data}, author = {Stephen A Roberts and Loretta Brabin and Halidou Tinto and Sabine Gies and Salou Diallo and Bernard Brabin}, doi = {10.1186/s12889-021-11819-0}, issn = {1471-2458}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-09-01}, urldate = {2021-09-01}, journal = {BMC Public Health}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {1764}, publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Adolescents are considered at high risk of developing iron deficiency. Studies in children indicate that the prevalence of iron deficiency increased with malaria transmission, suggesting malaria seasonally may drive iron deficiency. This paper examines monthly seasonal infection patterns of malaria, abnormal vaginal flora, chorioamnionitis, antibiotic and antimalarial prescriptions, in relation to changes in iron biomarkers and nutritional indices in adolescents living in a rural area of Burkina Faso, in order to assess the requirement for seasonal infection control and nutrition interventions. METHODS: Data collected between April 2011 and January 2014 were available for an observational seasonal analysis, comprising scheduled visits for 1949 non-pregnant adolescents (≤19 years), (315 of whom subsequently became pregnant), enrolled in a randomised trial of periconceptional iron supplementation. Data from trial arms were combined. Body Iron Stores (BIS) were calculated using an internal regression for ferritin to allow for inflammation. At recruitment 11% had low BIS (< 0 mg/kg). Continuous outcomes were fitted to a mixed-effects linear model with month, age and pregnancy status as fixed effect covariates and woman as a random effect. Dichotomous infection outcomes were fitted with analogous logistic regression models. RESULTS: Seasonal variation in malaria parasitaemia prevalence ranged between 18 and 70% in non-pregnant adolescents (P < 0.001), peaking at 81% in those who became pregnant. Seasonal variation occurred in antibiotic prescription rates (0.7-1.8 prescriptions/100 weekly visits, P < 0.001) and chorioamnionitis prevalence (range 15-68%, P = 0.026). Mucosal vaginal lactoferrin concentration was lower at the end of the wet season (range 2-22 μg/ml, P < 0.016), when chorioamnionitis was least frequent. BIS fluctuated annually by up to 53.2% per year around the mean BIS (5.1 mg/kg(2), range 4.1-6.8 mg/kg), with low BIS (< 0 mg/kg) of 8.7% in the dry and 9.8% in the wet seasons (P = 0.36). Median serum transferrin receptor increased during the wet season (P < 0.001). Higher hepcidin concentration in the wet season corresponded with rising malaria prevalence and use of prescriptions, but with no change in BIS. Mean Body Mass Index and Mid-Upper-Arm-Circumference values peaked mid-dry season (both P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis supports preventive treatment of malaria among adolescents 15-19 years to decrease their disease burden, especially asymptomatic malaria. As BIS were adequate in most adolescents despite seasonal malaria, a requirement for programmatic iron supplementation was not substantiated.}, note = {© 2021. The Author(s). PMID: 34579679 PMCID: PMC8477466}, keywords = {Abnormal vaginal flora, Adolescents, Bacterial vaginosis, Body Mass Index, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Child, Female, Humans, Iron, iron biomarkers, Malaria, Malaria/drug therapy/epidemiology, MUAC, Pregnancy, Seasons, Vagina}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: Adolescents are considered at high risk of developing iron deficiency. Studies in children indicate that the prevalence of iron deficiency increased with malaria transmission, suggesting malaria seasonally may drive iron deficiency. This paper examines monthly seasonal infection patterns of malaria, abnormal vaginal flora, chorioamnionitis, antibiotic and antimalarial prescriptions, in relation to changes in iron biomarkers and nutritional indices in adolescents living in a rural area of Burkina Faso, in order to assess the requirement for seasonal infection control and nutrition interventions. METHODS: Data collected between April 2011 and January 2014 were available for an observational seasonal analysis, comprising scheduled visits for 1949 non-pregnant adolescents (≤19 years), (315 of whom subsequently became pregnant), enrolled in a randomised trial of periconceptional iron supplementation. Data from trial arms were combined. Body Iron Stores (BIS) were calculated using an internal regression for ferritin to allow for inflammation. At recruitment 11% had low BIS (< 0 mg/kg). Continuous outcomes were fitted to a mixed-effects linear model with month, age and pregnancy status as fixed effect covariates and woman as a random effect. Dichotomous infection outcomes were fitted with analogous logistic regression models. RESULTS: Seasonal variation in malaria parasitaemia prevalence ranged between 18 and 70% in non-pregnant adolescents (P < 0.001), peaking at 81% in those who became pregnant. Seasonal variation occurred in antibiotic prescription rates (0.7-1.8 prescriptions/100 weekly visits, P < 0.001) and chorioamnionitis prevalence (range 15-68%, P = 0.026). Mucosal vaginal lactoferrin concentration was lower at the end of the wet season (range 2-22 μg/ml, P < 0.016), when chorioamnionitis was least frequent. BIS fluctuated annually by up to 53.2% per year around the mean BIS (5.1 mg/kg(2), range 4.1-6.8 mg/kg), with low BIS (< 0 mg/kg) of 8.7% in the dry and 9.8% in the wet seasons (P = 0.36). Median serum transferrin receptor increased during the wet season (P < 0.001). Higher hepcidin concentration in the wet season corresponded with rising malaria prevalence and use of prescriptions, but with no change in BIS. Mean Body Mass Index and Mid-Upper-Arm-Circumference values peaked mid-dry season (both P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis supports preventive treatment of malaria among adolescents 15-19 years to decrease their disease burden, especially asymptomatic malaria. As BIS were adequate in most adolescents despite seasonal malaria, a requirement for programmatic iron supplementation was not substantiated. Close doi:10.1186/s12889-021-11819-0 Close
	Adéla"ide Compaoré, Kadija Ouedraogo, Palwende R Boua, Daniella Watson, Sarah H Kehoe, Marie-Louise Newell, Halidou Tinto, Mary Barker, Hermann Sorgho, INPreP group ‘Men are not playing their roles’, maternal and child nutrition in Nanoro, Burkina Faso (Journal Article) In: Public Health Nutr., vol. 24, no. 12, pp. 3780–3790, 2021, ISSN: 1475-2727 1368-9800, (Place: England PMID: 33000717). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Burkina Faso, Child, Child nutrition, Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, Community perceptions, Empowerment, Female, Humans, Male, Maternal nutrition, Mothers, Nutritional Status, Pregnancy, Qualitative research) Close @article{Compaore2021-hg, title = {'Men are not playing their roles', maternal and child nutrition in Nanoro, Burkina Faso}, author = {Ad\'{e}la"ide Compaor\'{e} and Kadija Ouedraogo and Palwende R Boua and Daniella Watson and Sarah H Kehoe and Marie-Louise Newell and Halidou Tinto and Mary Barker and Hermann Sorgho and INPreP group}, doi = {10.1017/S1368980020003365}, issn = {1475-2727 1368-9800}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-08-01}, urldate = {2021-08-01}, journal = {Public Health Nutr.}, volume = {24}, number = {12}, pages = {3780--3790}, publisher = {Cambridge University Press (CUP)}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To collect context-specific insights into maternal and child health and nutrition issues, and to explore potential solutions in Nanoro, Burkina Faso. DESIGN: Eleven focus groups with men and women from eleven communities, facilitated by local researchers. SETTING: The study took place in the Nanoro Health district, in the West-Central part of Burkina Faso. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-six men (18-55 years) and women by age group: 18-25; 26-34 and 35-55 years, participated in the group discussions. RESULTS: Participants described barriers to optimal nutrition of mothers and children related to a range of community factors, with gender inequality as central. Major themes in the discussions are related to poverty and challenges generated by socially and culturally determined gender roles. Sub-themes are women lacking access to food whilst pregnant and having limited access to health care and opportunities to generate income. Although communities believe that food donations should be implemented to overcome this, they also pointed out the need for enhancing their own food production, requiring improved agricultural technologies. Given the important role that women could play in reducing malnutrition, these communities felt they needed to be empowered to do so and supported by men. They also felt that this had to be carried out in the context of an enhanced health care system. CONCLUSIONS: Findings reported here highlight the importance of nutrition-sensitive interventions and women's empowerment in improving maternal and child nutrition. There is a need to integrate a sustainable multi-sectorial approach which goes beyond food support.}, note = {Place: England PMID: 33000717}, keywords = {Burkina Faso, Child, Child nutrition, Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, Community perceptions, Empowerment, Female, Humans, Male, Maternal nutrition, Mothers, Nutritional Status, Pregnancy, Qualitative research}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close OBJECTIVE: To collect context-specific insights into maternal and child health and nutrition issues, and to explore potential solutions in Nanoro, Burkina Faso. DESIGN: Eleven focus groups with men and women from eleven communities, facilitated by local researchers. SETTING: The study took place in the Nanoro Health district, in the West-Central part of Burkina Faso. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-six men (18-55 years) and women by age group: 18-25; 26-34 and 35-55 years, participated in the group discussions. RESULTS: Participants described barriers to optimal nutrition of mothers and children related to a range of community factors, with gender inequality as central. Major themes in the discussions are related to poverty and challenges generated by socially and culturally determined gender roles. Sub-themes are women lacking access to food whilst pregnant and having limited access to health care and opportunities to generate income. Although communities believe that food donations should be implemented to overcome this, they also pointed out the need for enhancing their own food production, requiring improved agricultural technologies. Given the important role that women could play in reducing malnutrition, these communities felt they needed to be empowered to do so and supported by men. They also felt that this had to be carried out in the context of an enhanced health care system. CONCLUSIONS: Findings reported here highlight the importance of nutrition-sensitive interventions and women’s empowerment in improving maternal and child nutrition. There is a need to integrate a sustainable multi-sectorial approach which goes beyond food support. Close doi:10.1017/S1368980020003365 Close
	Koudraogo Bienvenue Yaméogo, Rakiswendé Serge Yerbanga, Seydou Bienvenu Ouattara, Franck A Yao, Thierry Lef`evre, Issaka Zongo, Frederic Niki`ema, Yves Daniel Compaoré, Halidou Tinto, Daniel Chandramohan, Brian Greenwood, Adrien M G Belem, Anna Cohuet, Jean Bosco Ouédraogo Effect of seasonal malaria chemoprevention plus azithromycin on Plasmodium falciparum transmission: gametocyte infectivity and mosquito fitness (Journal Article) In: Malar. J., vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 326, 2021, ISSN: 1475-2875, (© 2021. The Author(s). PMID: 34315475 PMCID: PMC8314489). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Amodiaquine/administration & dosage, Animals, Antimalarials/administration & dosage, Chemoprevention, Child, Culicidae/physiology, Drug Combinations, Falciparum/prevention & control/transmission, Gametocytes, Genetic Fitness, Humans, Malaria, Plasmodium falciparum/physiology, Preschool, Pyrimethamine/administration & dosage, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, Seasons, Sulfadoxine/administration & dosage, Transmission) Close @article{Yameogo2021-bb, title = {Effect of seasonal malaria chemoprevention plus azithromycin on Plasmodium falciparum transmission: gametocyte infectivity and mosquito fitness}, author = {Koudraogo Bienvenue Yam\'{e}ogo and Rakiswend\'{e} Serge Yerbanga and Seydou Bienvenu Ouattara and Franck A Yao and Thierry Lef`evre and Issaka Zongo and Frederic Niki`ema and Yves Daniel Compaor\'{e} and Halidou Tinto and Daniel Chandramohan and Brian Greenwood and Adrien M G Belem and Anna Cohuet and Jean Bosco Ou\'{e}draogo}, doi = {10.1186/s12936-021-03855-3}, issn = {1475-2875}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-07-27}, urldate = {2021-07-27}, journal = {Malar. J.}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {326}, publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) consists of administration of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) + amodiaquine (AQ) at monthly intervals to children during the malaria transmission period. Whether the addition of azithromycin (AZ) to SMC could potentiate the benefit of the intervention was tested through a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. The effect of SMC and the addition of AZ, on malaria transmission and on the life history traits of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes have been investigated. METHODS: The study included 438 children randomly selected from among participants in the SMC + AZ trial and 198 children from the same area who did not receive chemoprevention. For each participant in the SMC + AZ trial, blood was collected 14 to 21 days post treatment, examined for the presence of malaria sexual and asexual stages and provided as a blood meal to An. gambiae females using a direct membrane-feeding assay. RESULTS: The SMC treatment, with or without AZ, significantly reduced the prevalence of asexual Plasmodium falciparum (LRT X(2)(2) = 69, P < 0.0001) and the gametocyte prevalence (LRT X(2)(2) = 54, P < 0.0001). In addition, the proportion of infectious feeds (LRT X(2)(2) = 61, P < 0.0001) and the prevalence of oocysts among exposed mosquitoes (LRT X(2)(2) = 22.8, P < 0.001) was reduced when mosquitoes were fed on blood from treated children compared to untreated controls. The addition of AZ to SPAQ was associated with an increased proportion of infectious feeds (LRT X(2)(1) = 5.2, P = 0.02), suggesting a significant effect of AZ on gametocyte infectivity. There was a slight negative effect of SPAQ and SPAQ + AZ on mosquito survival compared to mosquitoes fed with blood from control children (LRTX(2)(2) = 330, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that SMC may contribute to a reduction in human to mosquito transmission of P. falciparum, and the reduced mosquito longevity observed for females fed on treated blood may increase the benefit of this intervention in control of malaria. The addition of AZ to SPAQ in SMC appeared to enhance the infectivity of gametocytes providing further evidence that this combination is not an appropriate intervention.}, note = {© 2021. The Author(s). PMID: 34315475 PMCID: PMC8314489}, keywords = {Amodiaquine/administration \& dosage, Animals, Antimalarials/administration \& dosage, Chemoprevention, Child, Culicidae/physiology, Drug Combinations, Falciparum/prevention \& control/transmission, Gametocytes, Genetic Fitness, Humans, Malaria, Plasmodium falciparum/physiology, Preschool, Pyrimethamine/administration \& dosage, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, Seasons, Sulfadoxine/administration \& dosage, Transmission}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) consists of administration of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) + amodiaquine (AQ) at monthly intervals to children during the malaria transmission period. Whether the addition of azithromycin (AZ) to SMC could potentiate the benefit of the intervention was tested through a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. The effect of SMC and the addition of AZ, on malaria transmission and on the life history traits of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes have been investigated. METHODS: The study included 438 children randomly selected from among participants in the SMC + AZ trial and 198 children from the same area who did not receive chemoprevention. For each participant in the SMC + AZ trial, blood was collected 14 to 21 days post treatment, examined for the presence of malaria sexual and asexual stages and provided as a blood meal to An. gambiae females using a direct membrane-feeding assay. RESULTS: The SMC treatment, with or without AZ, significantly reduced the prevalence of asexual Plasmodium falciparum (LRT X(2)(2) = 69, P < 0.0001) and the gametocyte prevalence (LRT X(2)(2) = 54, P < 0.0001). In addition, the proportion of infectious feeds (LRT X(2)(2) = 61, P < 0.0001) and the prevalence of oocysts among exposed mosquitoes (LRT X(2)(2) = 22.8, P < 0.001) was reduced when mosquitoes were fed on blood from treated children compared to untreated controls. The addition of AZ to SPAQ was associated with an increased proportion of infectious feeds (LRT X(2)(1) = 5.2, P = 0.02), suggesting a significant effect of AZ on gametocyte infectivity. There was a slight negative effect of SPAQ and SPAQ + AZ on mosquito survival compared to mosquitoes fed with blood from control children (LRTX(2)(2) = 330, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that SMC may contribute to a reduction in human to mosquito transmission of P. falciparum, and the reduced mosquito longevity observed for females fed on treated blood may increase the benefit of this intervention in control of malaria. The addition of AZ to SPAQ in SMC appeared to enhance the infectivity of gametocytes providing further evidence that this combination is not an appropriate intervention. Close doi:10.1186/s12936-021-03855-3 Close
	Navideh Noori, Karim Derra, Innocent Valea, Assaf P Oron, Aminata Welgo, Toussaint Rouamba, Palwende Romuald Boua, Athanase M Somé, Eli Rouamba, Edward Wenger, Hermann Sorgho, Halidou Tinto, Andre Lin Ouédraogo Patterns of child mortality in rural area of Burkina Faso: evidence from the Nanoro health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) (Journal Article) In: BMC Public Health, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 1425, 2021, ISSN: 1471-2458, (© 2021. The Author(s). PMID: 34281547 PMCID: PMC8287796). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, child mortality, ChildHealth Facilities, Children under 5, Demographic surveillance, HDSS, Humans, Infant, Malaria, Nanoro, Spatial analysis, Travel) Close @article{Noori2021-te, title = {Patterns of child mortality in rural area of Burkina Faso: evidence from the Nanoro health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS)}, author = {Navideh Noori and Karim Derra and Innocent Valea and Assaf P Oron and Aminata Welgo and Toussaint Rouamba and Palwende Romuald Boua and Athanase M Som\'{e} and Eli Rouamba and Edward Wenger and Hermann Sorgho and Halidou Tinto and Andre Lin Ou\'{e}draogo}, doi = {10.1186/s12889-021-11483-4}, issn = {1471-2458}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-07-19}, urldate = {2021-07-19}, journal = {BMC Public Health}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {1425}, publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Half of global child deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding child mortality patterns and risk factors will help inform interventions to reduce this heavy toll. The Nanoro Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS), Burkina Faso was described previously, but patterns and potential drivers of heterogeneity in child mortality in the district had not been studied. Similar studies in other districts indicated proximity to health facilities as a risk factor, usually without distinction between facility types. METHODS: Using Nanoro HDSS data from 2009 to 2013, we estimated the association between under-5 mortality and proximity to inpatient and outpatient health facilities, seasonality of death, age group, and standard demographic risk factors. RESULTS: Living in homes 40-60 min and > 60 min travel time from an inpatient facility was associated with 1.52 (95% CI: 1.13-2.06) and 1.74 (95% CI: 1.27-2.40) greater hazard of under-5 mortality, respectively, than living in homes < 20 min from an inpatient facility. No such association was found for outpatient facilities. The wet season (July-November) was associated with 1.28 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.53) higher under-5 mortality than the dry season (December-June), likely reflecting the malaria season. CONCLUSIONS: Our results emphasize the importance of geographical proximity to health care, distinguish between inpatient and outpatient facilities, and also show a seasonal effect, probably driven by malaria.}, note = {© 2021. The Author(s). PMID: 34281547 PMCID: PMC8287796}, keywords = {Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, child mortality, ChildHealth Facilities, Children under 5, Demographic surveillance, HDSS, Humans, Infant, Malaria, Nanoro, Spatial analysis, Travel}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: Half of global child deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding child mortality patterns and risk factors will help inform interventions to reduce this heavy toll. The Nanoro Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS), Burkina Faso was described previously, but patterns and potential drivers of heterogeneity in child mortality in the district had not been studied. Similar studies in other districts indicated proximity to health facilities as a risk factor, usually without distinction between facility types. METHODS: Using Nanoro HDSS data from 2009 to 2013, we estimated the association between under-5 mortality and proximity to inpatient and outpatient health facilities, seasonality of death, age group, and standard demographic risk factors. RESULTS: Living in homes 40-60 min and > 60 min travel time from an inpatient facility was associated with 1.52 (95% CI: 1.13-2.06) and 1.74 (95% CI: 1.27-2.40) greater hazard of under-5 mortality, respectively, than living in homes < 20 min from an inpatient facility. No such association was found for outpatient facilities. The wet season (July-November) was associated with 1.28 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.53) higher under-5 mortality than the dry season (December-June), likely reflecting the malaria season. CONCLUSIONS: Our results emphasize the importance of geographical proximity to health care, distinguish between inpatient and outpatient facilities, and also show a seasonal effect, probably driven by malaria. Close doi:10.1186/s12889-021-11483-4 Close
	Marie Jaspard, Mamadou Saliou Sow, Sylvain Juchet, Eric Dienderé, Beatrice Serra, Richard Kojan, Billy Sivahera, Caroline Martin, Moumouni Kinda, Hans-Joerg Lang, Fodé Bangaly Sako, Fodé Amara Traoré, Eudoxie Koumbem, Halidou Tinto, Adama Sanou, Apoline Sondo, Flavien Kaboré, Joseph Donamou, Jean-Paul-Yassa Guilavogui, Fanny Velardo, Brice Bicaba, Olivier Marcy, Augustin Augier, Sani Sayadi, Armel Poda, Sakoba Keita, Xavier Anglaret, Denis Malvy, COVISTA group Clinical presentation, outcomes and factors associated with mortality: A prospective study from three COVID-19 referral care centres in West Africa (Journal Article) In: Int. J. Infect. Dis., vol. 108, pp. 45–52, 2021, ISSN: 1878-3511 1201-9712, (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved. PMID: 34000419 PMCID: PMC8120805). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Adult, Aged, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Comorbidities, COVID-19, Female, Hospitalization, Humans, Male, Mortality, Prospective Studies, Referral and Consultation, SARS-Cov-2, sub-Saharan Africa) Close @article{Jaspard2021-bl, title = {Clinical presentation, outcomes and factors associated with mortality: A prospective study from three COVID-19 referral care centres in West Africa}, author = {Marie Jaspard and Mamadou Saliou Sow and Sylvain Juchet and Eric Diender\'{e} and Beatrice Serra and Richard Kojan and Billy Sivahera and Caroline Martin and Moumouni Kinda and Hans-Joerg Lang and Fod\'{e} Bangaly Sako and Fod\'{e} Amara Traor\'{e} and Eudoxie Koumbem and Halidou Tinto and Adama Sanou and Apoline Sondo and Flavien Kabor\'{e} and Joseph Donamou and Jean-Paul-Yassa Guilavogui and Fanny Velardo and Brice Bicaba and Olivier Marcy and Augustin Augier and Sani Sayadi and Armel Poda and Sakoba Keita and Xavier Anglaret and Denis Malvy and COVISTA group}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijid.2021.05.024}, issn = {1878-3511 1201-9712}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-07-01}, urldate = {2021-07-01}, journal = {Int. J. Infect. Dis.}, volume = {108}, pages = {45--52}, publisher = {Elsevier BV}, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: The overall death toll from COVID-19 in Africa is reported to be low but there is little individual-level evidence on the severity of the disease. This study examined the clinical spectrum and outcome of patients monitored in COVID-19 care centres (CCCs) in two West-African countries. METHODS: Burkina Faso and Guinea set up referral CCCs to hospitalise all symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 carriers, regardless of the severity of their symptoms. Data collected from hospitalised patients by November 2020 are presented. RESULT: A total of 1,805 patients (64% men, median age 41 years) were admitted with COVID-19. Symptoms lasted for a median of 7 days (IQR 4-11). During hospitalisation, 443 (25%) had a SpO2 < 94% at least once, 237 (13%) received oxygen and 266 (15%) took corticosteroids. Mortality was 5% overall, and 1%, 5% and 14% in patients aged <40, 40-59 and $geq$60 years, respectively. In multivariable analysis, the risk of death was higher in men (aOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1; 3.6), people aged $geq$60 years (aOR 2.9, 95% CI 1.7; 4.8) and those with chronic hypertension (aOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2; 3.4). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 is as severe in Africa as elsewhere, and there must be more vigilance for common risk factors such as older age and hypertension.}, note = {Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved. PMID: 34000419 PMCID: PMC8120805}, keywords = {Adult, Aged, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Comorbidities, COVID-19, Female, Hospitalization, Humans, Male, Mortality, Prospective Studies, Referral and Consultation, SARS-Cov-2, sub-Saharan Africa}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close OBJECTIVES: The overall death toll from COVID-19 in Africa is reported to be low but there is little individual-level evidence on the severity of the disease. This study examined the clinical spectrum and outcome of patients monitored in COVID-19 care centres (CCCs) in two West-African countries. METHODS: Burkina Faso and Guinea set up referral CCCs to hospitalise all symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 carriers, regardless of the severity of their symptoms. Data collected from hospitalised patients by November 2020 are presented. RESULT: A total of 1,805 patients (64% men, median age 41 years) were admitted with COVID-19. Symptoms lasted for a median of 7 days (IQR 4-11). During hospitalisation, 443 (25%) had a SpO2 < 94% at least once, 237 (13%) received oxygen and 266 (15%) took corticosteroids. Mortality was 5% overall, and 1%, 5% and 14% in patients aged <40, 40-59 and $geq$60 years, respectively. In multivariable analysis, the risk of death was higher in men (aOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1; 3.6), people aged $geq$60 years (aOR 2.9, 95% CI 1.7; 4.8) and those with chronic hypertension (aOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2; 3.4). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 is as severe in Africa as elsewhere, and there must be more vigilance for common risk factors such as older age and hypertension. Close doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2021.05.024 Close
	Mariken Wit, Matthew Cairns, Yves Daniel Compaoré, Issaka Sagara, Irene Kuepfer, Issaka Zongo, Amadou Barry, Modibo Diarra, Amadou Tapily, Samba Coumare, Ismaila Thera, Frederic Nikiema, R Serge Yerbanga, Rosemonde M Guissou, Halidou Tinto, Alassane Dicko, Daniel Chandramohan, Brian Greenwood, Jean Bosco Ouedraogo Nutritional status in young children prior to the malaria transmission season in Burkina Faso and Mali, and its impact on the incidence of clinical malaria (Journal Article) In: Malar. J., vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 274, 2021, ISSN: 1475-2875, (PMID: 34158054 PMCID: PMC8220741). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Acute malnutrition, Antimalarials/administration & dosage, Azithromycin/administration & dosage, Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Child, Chronic malnutrition, Female, Humans, Incidence, Infant, Malaria, Malaria/epidemiology/transmission, Male, Nutritional Status, Preschool, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, Seasons) Close @article{De_Wit2021-yi, title = {Nutritional status in young children prior to the malaria transmission season in Burkina Faso and Mali, and its impact on the incidence of clinical malaria}, author = {Mariken Wit and Matthew Cairns and Yves Daniel Compaor\'{e} and Issaka Sagara and Irene Kuepfer and Issaka Zongo and Amadou Barry and Modibo Diarra and Amadou Tapily and Samba Coumare and Ismaila Thera and Frederic Nikiema and R Serge Yerbanga and Rosemonde M Guissou and Halidou Tinto and Alassane Dicko and Daniel Chandramohan and Brian Greenwood and Jean Bosco Ouedraogo}, doi = {10.1186/s12936-021-03802-2}, issn = {1475-2875}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-06-22}, urldate = {2021-06-22}, journal = {Malar. J.}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {274}, publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Malaria and malnutrition remain major problems in Sahel countries, especially in young children. The direct effect of malnutrition on malaria remains poorly understood, and may have important implications for malaria control. In this study, nutritional status and the association between malnutrition and subsequent incidence of symptomatic malaria were examined in children in Burkina Faso and Mali who received either azithromycin or placebo, alongside seasonal malaria chemoprevention. METHODS: Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) was measured in all 20,185 children who attended a screening visit prior to the malaria transmission season in 2015. Prior to the 2016 malaria season, weight, height and MUAC were measured among 4149 randomly selected children. Height-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-height, and MUAC-for-age were calculated as indicators of nutritional status. Malaria incidence was measured during the following rainy seasons. Multivariable random effects Poisson models were created for each nutritional indicator to study the effect of malnutrition on clinical malaria incidence for each country. RESULTS: In both 2015 and 2016, nutritional status prior to the malaria season was poor. The most prevalent form of malnutrition in Burkina Faso was being underweight (30.5%; 95% CI 28.6-32.6), whereas in Mali stunting was most prevalent (27.5%; 95% CI 25.6-29.5). In 2016, clinical malaria incidence was 675 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 613-744) in Burkina Faso, and 1245 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 1152-1347) in Mali. There was some evidence that severe stunting was associated with lower incidence of malaria in Mali (RR 0.81; 95% CI 0.64-1.02; p = 0.08), but this association was not seen in Burkina Faso. Being moderately underweight tended to be associated with higher incidence of clinical malaria in Burkina Faso (RR 1.27; 95% CI 0.98-1.64; p = 0.07), while this was the case in Mali for moderate wasting (RR 1.27; 95% CI 0.98-1.64; p = 0.07). However, these associations were not observed in severely affected children, nor consistent between countries. MUAC-for-age was not associated with malaria risk. CONCLUSIONS: Both malnutrition and malaria were common in the study areas, high despite high coverage of seasonal malaria chemoprevention and long-lasting insecticidal nets. However, no strong or consistent evidence was found for an association between any of the nutritional indicators and the subsequent incidence of clinical malaria.}, note = {PMID: 34158054 PMCID: PMC8220741}, keywords = {Acute malnutrition, Antimalarials/administration \& dosage, Azithromycin/administration \& dosage, Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Child, Chronic malnutrition, Female, Humans, Incidence, Infant, Malaria, Malaria/epidemiology/transmission, Male, Nutritional Status, Preschool, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, Seasons}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: Malaria and malnutrition remain major problems in Sahel countries, especially in young children. The direct effect of malnutrition on malaria remains poorly understood, and may have important implications for malaria control. In this study, nutritional status and the association between malnutrition and subsequent incidence of symptomatic malaria were examined in children in Burkina Faso and Mali who received either azithromycin or placebo, alongside seasonal malaria chemoprevention. METHODS: Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) was measured in all 20,185 children who attended a screening visit prior to the malaria transmission season in 2015. Prior to the 2016 malaria season, weight, height and MUAC were measured among 4149 randomly selected children. Height-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-height, and MUAC-for-age were calculated as indicators of nutritional status. Malaria incidence was measured during the following rainy seasons. Multivariable random effects Poisson models were created for each nutritional indicator to study the effect of malnutrition on clinical malaria incidence for each country. RESULTS: In both 2015 and 2016, nutritional status prior to the malaria season was poor. The most prevalent form of malnutrition in Burkina Faso was being underweight (30.5%; 95% CI 28.6-32.6), whereas in Mali stunting was most prevalent (27.5%; 95% CI 25.6-29.5). In 2016, clinical malaria incidence was 675 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 613-744) in Burkina Faso, and 1245 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 1152-1347) in Mali. There was some evidence that severe stunting was associated with lower incidence of malaria in Mali (RR 0.81; 95% CI 0.64-1.02; p = 0.08), but this association was not seen in Burkina Faso. Being moderately underweight tended to be associated with higher incidence of clinical malaria in Burkina Faso (RR 1.27; 95% CI 0.98-1.64; p = 0.07), while this was the case in Mali for moderate wasting (RR 1.27; 95% CI 0.98-1.64; p = 0.07). However, these associations were not observed in severely affected children, nor consistent between countries. MUAC-for-age was not associated with malaria risk. CONCLUSIONS: Both malnutrition and malaria were common in the study areas, high despite high coverage of seasonal malaria chemoprevention and long-lasting insecticidal nets. However, no strong or consistent evidence was found for an association between any of the nutritional indicators and the subsequent incidence of clinical malaria. Close doi:10.1186/s12936-021-03802-2 Close
	Paul Sondo, Biebo Bihoun, Bérenger Kabore, Marc Christian Tahita, Karim Derra, Toussaint Rouamba, Seydou Nakanabo Diallo, Adama Kazienga, Hamidou Ilboudo, Innocent Valea, Zekiba Tarnagda, Hermann Sorgho, Thierry Lefevre, Halidou Tinto Polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum parasites and mutations in the resistance genes Pfcrt and Pfmdr1 in Nanoro area, Burkina Faso. (Journal Article) In: Pan Afr. Med. J., vol. 39, pp. 118, 2021, ISSN: 1937-8688, (Copyright: Paul Sondo et al. PMID: 34512854 PMCID: PMC8396377). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Antimalarials/pharmacology, Burkina Faso, Drug Resistance, Falciparum/drug therapy/parasitology, GeneticRestriction Fragment Length, Genotype, Humans, Malaria, Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics, msp1, msp2, Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins/genetics, Mutation, Pfcrt, Pfmdr1, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium falciparum/drug effects/genetics/isolation & purification, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Polymorphism, Protozoan Proteins/genetics) Close @article{Sondo2021-qe, title = {Polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum parasites and mutations in the resistance genes Pfcrt and Pfmdr1 in Nanoro area, Burkina Faso.}, author = {Paul Sondo and Biebo Bihoun and B\'{e}renger Kabore and Marc Christian Tahita and Karim Derra and Toussaint Rouamba and Seydou Nakanabo Diallo and Adama Kazienga and Hamidou Ilboudo and Innocent Valea and Zekiba Tarnagda and Hermann Sorgho and Thierry Lefevre and Halidou Tinto}, doi = {10.11604/pamj.2021.39.118.26959}, issn = {1937-8688}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-06-10}, urldate = {2021-06-10}, journal = {Pan Afr. Med. J.}, volume = {39}, pages = {118}, publisher = {Pan African Medical Journal}, abstract = {Introduction: from a genetic point of view P. falciparumis extremely polymorphic. There is a variety of parasite strains infesting individuals living in malaria endemic areas. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum parasites and Pfcrt and Pfmdr1 gene mutations in Nanoro area, Burkina Faso. Methods: blood samples from plasmodium carriers residing in the Nanoro Health District were genotyped using nested PCR. Parasite gene mutations associated with resistance to antimalarial drugs were detected by PCR-RFLP. Results: samples of 672 patients were successfully genotyped. No msp1and msp2allelic families exhibited an increase in developing mutations in resistance genes. However, mutant strains of these genes were present at greater levels in monoclonal infections than in multi-clonal infections. Conclusion: this study provides an overview of the relationship between polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum parasites and mutations in resistance genes. These data will undoubtedly contribute to improving knowledge of the parasite´s biology and its mechanisms of resistance to antimalarial drugs.}, note = {Copyright: Paul Sondo et al. PMID: 34512854 PMCID: PMC8396377}, keywords = {Antimalarials/pharmacology, Burkina Faso, Drug Resistance, Falciparum/drug therapy/parasitology, GeneticRestriction Fragment Length, Genotype, Humans, Malaria, Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics, msp1, msp2, Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins/genetics, Mutation, Pfcrt, Pfmdr1, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium falciparum/drug effects/genetics/isolation \& purification, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Polymorphism, Protozoan Proteins/genetics}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close Introduction: from a genetic point of view P. falciparumis extremely polymorphic. There is a variety of parasite strains infesting individuals living in malaria endemic areas. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum parasites and Pfcrt and Pfmdr1 gene mutations in Nanoro area, Burkina Faso. Methods: blood samples from plasmodium carriers residing in the Nanoro Health District were genotyped using nested PCR. Parasite gene mutations associated with resistance to antimalarial drugs were detected by PCR-RFLP. Results: samples of 672 patients were successfully genotyped. No msp1and msp2allelic families exhibited an increase in developing mutations in resistance genes. However, mutant strains of these genes were present at greater levels in monoclonal infections than in multi-clonal infections. Conclusion: this study provides an overview of the relationship between polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum parasites and mutations in resistance genes. These data will undoubtedly contribute to improving knowledge of the parasite´s biology and its mechanisms of resistance to antimalarial drugs. Close doi:10.11604/pamj.2021.39.118.26959 Close
	Annelies Post, Berenger Kaboré, Mike Berendsen, Salou Diallo, Ousmane Traore, Rob J W Arts, Mihai G Netea, Leo A B Joosten, Halidou Tinto, Jan Jacobs, Quirijn Mast, André Ven Altered ex-vivo cytokine responses in children with asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infection in Burkina Faso: An additional argument to treat asymptomatic malaria? (Journal Article) In: Front. Immunol., vol. 12, pp. 614817, 2021, ISSN: 1664-3224, (Copyright © 2021 Post, Kaboré, Berendsen, Diallo, Traore, Arts, Netea, Joosten, Tinto, Jacobs, de Mast and van der Ven. PMID: 34177883 PMCID: PMC8220162). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Asymptomatic Diseases, asymptomatic malaria, bacteraemia, Bacteremia, bloodstream infection, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Cells, Child, Cultured, Cytokines/metabolism, Endemic Diseases, Female, Humans, Infant, iNTS, Lipopolysaccharides/immunology, Malaria/epidemiology/immunology, Male, Parasite Load, Plasmodium falciparum/physiology, Preschool, Salmonella) Close @article{Post2021-oo, title = {Altered ex-vivo cytokine responses in children with asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infection in Burkina Faso: An additional argument to treat asymptomatic malaria?}, author = {Annelies Post and Berenger Kabor\'{e} and Mike Berendsen and Salou Diallo and Ousmane Traore and Rob J W Arts and Mihai G Netea and Leo A B Joosten and Halidou Tinto and Jan Jacobs and Quirijn Mast and Andr\'{e} Ven}, doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2021.614817}, issn = {1664-3224}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-06-09}, urldate = {2021-06-09}, journal = {Front. Immunol.}, volume = {12}, pages = {614817}, publisher = {Frontiers Media SA}, abstract = {Introduction: Patients with clinical malaria have an increased risk for bacterial bloodstream infections. We hypothesized that asymptomatic malaria parasitemia increases susceptibility for bacterial infections through an effect on the innate immune system. We measured circulating cytokine levels and ex-vivo cytokine production capacity in asymptomatic malaria and compared with controls. Methods: Data were collected from asymptomatic participants <5 years old with and without positive malaria microscopy, as well as from hospitalized patients <5 years old with clinical malaria, bacteremia, or malaria/bacteremia co-infections in a malaria endemic region of Burkina Faso. Circulating cytokines (TNF-$alpha$, IFN-$gamma$, IL-6, IL-10) were measured using multiplex assays. Whole blood from asymptomatic participants with and without positive malaria microscopy were ex-vivo stimulated with S. aureus, E. coli LPS and Salmonella Typhimurium; cytokine concentrations (TNF-$alpha$, IFN-$gamma$, IL-1$beta$, IL-6, IL-10) were measured on supernatants using ELISA. Results: Included were children with clinical malaria (n=118), bacteremia (n=22), malaria and bacteremia co-infection (n=9), asymptomatic malaria (n=125), and asymptomatic controls (n=237). Children with either clinical or asymptomatic malaria had higher plasma cytokine concentrations than controls. Cytokine concentrations correlated positively with malaria parasite density with the strongest correlation for IL-10 in both asymptomatic (r=0.63) and clinical malaria (r=0.53). Patients with bacteremia had lower circulating IL-10, TNF-$alpha$ and IFN-$gamma$ and higher IL-6 concentrations, compared to clinical malaria. Ex-vivo whole blood cytokine production to LPS and S. aureus was significantly lower in asymptomatic malaria compared to controls. Whole blood IFN-$gamma$ and IL-10 production in response to Salmonella was also lower in asymptomatic malaria. Interpretation: In children with asymptomatic malaria, cytokine responses upon ex-vivo bacterial stimulation are downregulated. Further studies are needed to explore if the suggested impaired innate immune response to bacterial pathogens also translates into impaired control of pathogens such as Salmonella spp.}, note = {Copyright © 2021 Post, Kabor\'{e}, Berendsen, Diallo, Traore, Arts, Netea, Joosten, Tinto, Jacobs, de Mast and van der Ven. PMID: 34177883 PMCID: PMC8220162}, keywords = {Asymptomatic Diseases, asymptomatic malaria, bacteraemia, Bacteremia, bloodstream infection, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Cells, Child, Cultured, Cytokines/metabolism, Endemic Diseases, Female, Humans, Infant, iNTS, Lipopolysaccharides/immunology, Malaria/epidemiology/immunology, Male, Parasite Load, Plasmodium falciparum/physiology, Preschool, Salmonella}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close Introduction: Patients with clinical malaria have an increased risk for bacterial bloodstream infections. We hypothesized that asymptomatic malaria parasitemia increases susceptibility for bacterial infections through an effect on the innate immune system. We measured circulating cytokine levels and ex-vivo cytokine production capacity in asymptomatic malaria and compared with controls. Methods: Data were collected from asymptomatic participants <5 years old with and without positive malaria microscopy, as well as from hospitalized patients <5 years old with clinical malaria, bacteremia, or malaria/bacteremia co-infections in a malaria endemic region of Burkina Faso. Circulating cytokines (TNF-$alpha$, IFN-$gamma$, IL-6, IL-10) were measured using multiplex assays. Whole blood from asymptomatic participants with and without positive malaria microscopy were ex-vivo stimulated with S. aureus, E. coli LPS and Salmonella Typhimurium; cytokine concentrations (TNF-$alpha$, IFN-$gamma$, IL-1$beta$, IL-6, IL-10) were measured on supernatants using ELISA. Results: Included were children with clinical malaria (n=118), bacteremia (n=22), malaria and bacteremia co-infection (n=9), asymptomatic malaria (n=125), and asymptomatic controls (n=237). Children with either clinical or asymptomatic malaria had higher plasma cytokine concentrations than controls. Cytokine concentrations correlated positively with malaria parasite density with the strongest correlation for IL-10 in both asymptomatic (r=0.63) and clinical malaria (r=0.53). Patients with bacteremia had lower circulating IL-10, TNF-$alpha$ and IFN-$gamma$ and higher IL-6 concentrations, compared to clinical malaria. Ex-vivo whole blood cytokine production to LPS and S. aureus was significantly lower in asymptomatic malaria compared to controls. Whole blood IFN-$gamma$ and IL-10 production in response to Salmonella was also lower in asymptomatic malaria. Interpretation: In children with asymptomatic malaria, cytokine responses upon ex-vivo bacterial stimulation are downregulated. Further studies are needed to explore if the suggested impaired innate immune response to bacterial pathogens also translates into impaired control of pathogens such as Salmonella spp. Close doi:10.3389/fimmu.2021.614817 Close
	Paul Sondo, Marc Christian Tahita, Toussaint Rouamba, Karim Derra, Bérenger Kaboré, Cheick Sa"id Compaoré, Florence Ouédraogo, Eli Rouamba, Hamidou Ilboudo, Estelle A"issa Bambara, Macaire Nana, Edmond Yabré Sawadogo, Hermann Sorgho, Athanase Mwinessobaonfou Somé, Innocent Valéa, Prabin Dahal, Maminata Traoré/Coulibaly, Halidou Tinto Assessment of a combined strategy of seasonal malaria chemoprevention and supplementation with vitamin A, zinc and Plumpy’Doz™ to prevent malaria and malnutrition in children under 5 years old in Burkina Faso: a randomized open-label trial (SMC-NUT) (Journal Article) In: Trials, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 360, 2021, ISSN: 1745-6215, (PMID: 34030705 PMCID: PMC8142067). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Antimalarials/adverse effects, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Chemoprevention, Child, Child Nutrition Disorders, Dietary Supplements, Humans, Infant, Malaria, Malaria/diagnosis/epidemiology/prevention & control, Malnutrition, Malnutrition/diagnosis/drug therapy/prevention & control, Pharmaceutical Preparations, Plumpy’Doz™, Preschool, Randomized controlled trial, Seasonal chemoprevention, Seasons, Vitamin A, Vitamin A/adverse effects, Zinc) Close @article{Sondo2021-kc, title = {Assessment of a combined strategy of seasonal malaria chemoprevention and supplementation with vitamin A, zinc and Plumpy'Doz™ to prevent malaria and malnutrition in children under 5 years old in Burkina Faso: a randomized open-label trial (SMC-NUT)}, author = {Paul Sondo and Marc Christian Tahita and Toussaint Rouamba and Karim Derra and B\'{e}renger Kabor\'{e} and Cheick Sa"id Compaor\'{e} and Florence Ou\'{e}draogo and Eli Rouamba and Hamidou Ilboudo and Estelle A"issa Bambara and Macaire Nana and Edmond Yabr\'{e} Sawadogo and Hermann Sorgho and Athanase Mwinessobaonfou Som\'{e} and Innocent Val\'{e}a and Prabin Dahal and Maminata Traor\'{e}/Coulibaly and Halidou Tinto}, doi = {10.1186/s13063-021-05320-7}, issn = {1745-6215}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-05-24}, urldate = {2021-05-24}, journal = {Trials}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {360}, publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Malaria and malnutrition represent major public health concerns worldwide especially in Sub-Sahara Africa. Despite implementation of seasonal malaria chemoprophylaxis (SMC), an intervention aimed at reducing malaria incidence among children aged 3-59 months, the burden of malaria and associated mortality among children below age 5 years remains high in Burkina Faso. Malnutrition, in particular micronutrient deficiency, appears to be one of the potential factors that can negatively affect the effectiveness of SMC. Treating micronutrient deficiencies is known to reduce the incidence of malaria in highly prevalent malaria zone such as rural settings. Therefore, we hypothesized that a combined strategy of SMC together with a daily oral nutrients supplement will enhance the immune response and decrease the incidence of malaria and malnutrition among children under SMC coverage. METHODS: Children (6-59 months) under SMC coverage receiving vitamin A supplementation will be randomly assigned to one of the three study arms (a) SMC + vitamin A alone, (b) SMC + vitamin A + zinc, or (c) SMC + vitamin A + Plumpy'Doz™ using 1:1:1 allocation ratio. After each SMC monthly distribution, children will be visited at home to confirm drug administration and followed-up for 1 year. Anthropometric indicators will be recorded at each visit and blood samples will be collected for microscopy slides, haemoglobin measurement, and spotted onto filter paper for further PCR analyses. The primary outcome measure is the incidence of malaria in each arm. Secondary outcome measures will include mid-upper arm circumference and weight gain from baseline measurements, coverage and compliance to SMC, occurrence of adverse events (AEs), and prevalence of molecular markers of antimalarial resistance comprising Pfcrt, Pfmdr1, Pfdhfr, and Pfdhps. DISCUSSION: This study will demonstrate an integrated strategy of malaria and malnutrition programmes in order to mutualize resources for best impact. By relying on existing strategies, the policy implementation of this joint intervention will be scalable at country and regional levels. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04238845 . Registered on 23 January 2020 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04238845.}, note = {PMID: 34030705 PMCID: PMC8142067}, keywords = {Antimalarials/adverse effects, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Chemoprevention, Child, Child Nutrition Disorders, Dietary Supplements, Humans, Infant, Malaria, Malaria/diagnosis/epidemiology/prevention \& control, Malnutrition, Malnutrition/diagnosis/drug therapy/prevention \& control, Pharmaceutical Preparations, Plumpy’Doz™, Preschool, Randomized controlled trial, Seasonal chemoprevention, Seasons, Vitamin A, Vitamin A/adverse effects, Zinc}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: Malaria and malnutrition represent major public health concerns worldwide especially in Sub-Sahara Africa. Despite implementation of seasonal malaria chemoprophylaxis (SMC), an intervention aimed at reducing malaria incidence among children aged 3-59 months, the burden of malaria and associated mortality among children below age 5 years remains high in Burkina Faso. Malnutrition, in particular micronutrient deficiency, appears to be one of the potential factors that can negatively affect the effectiveness of SMC. Treating micronutrient deficiencies is known to reduce the incidence of malaria in highly prevalent malaria zone such as rural settings. Therefore, we hypothesized that a combined strategy of SMC together with a daily oral nutrients supplement will enhance the immune response and decrease the incidence of malaria and malnutrition among children under SMC coverage. METHODS: Children (6-59 months) under SMC coverage receiving vitamin A supplementation will be randomly assigned to one of the three study arms (a) SMC + vitamin A alone, (b) SMC + vitamin A + zinc, or (c) SMC + vitamin A + Plumpy’Doz™ using 1:1:1 allocation ratio. After each SMC monthly distribution, children will be visited at home to confirm drug administration and followed-up for 1 year. Anthropometric indicators will be recorded at each visit and blood samples will be collected for microscopy slides, haemoglobin measurement, and spotted onto filter paper for further PCR analyses. The primary outcome measure is the incidence of malaria in each arm. Secondary outcome measures will include mid-upper arm circumference and weight gain from baseline measurements, coverage and compliance to SMC, occurrence of adverse events (AEs), and prevalence of molecular markers of antimalarial resistance comprising Pfcrt, Pfmdr1, Pfdhfr, and Pfdhps. DISCUSSION: This study will demonstrate an integrated strategy of malaria and malnutrition programmes in order to mutualize resources for best impact. By relying on existing strategies, the policy implementation of this joint intervention will be scalable at country and regional levels. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04238845 . Registered on 23 January 2020 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04238845. Close doi:10.1186/s13063-021-05320-7 Close
	Joel D Bognini, Sekou Samadoulougou, Mady Ouedraogo, Tiga David Kangoye, Carine Van Malderen, Halidou Tinto, Fati Kirakoya-Samadoulougou Socioeconomic inequalities in curative healthcare-seeking for children under five before and after the free healthcare initiative in Sierra Leone: analysis of population-based survey data (Journal Article) In: Int. J. Equity Health, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 124, 2021, ISSN: 1475-9276, (PMID: 34020665 PMCID: PMC8140517). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Adolescent, Adult, Child, Children under five, Delivery of Health Care/economics, Female, Health Care Surveys, Healthcare Disparities/economics/statistics & numerical data, Healthcare utilization, Humans, Infant, Male, Parents/psychology, Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics & numerical data, Preschool, Sierra Leone, Socioeconomic Factors, Young Adult) Close @article{Bognini2021-mk, title = {Socioeconomic inequalities in curative healthcare-seeking for children under five before and after the free healthcare initiative in Sierra Leone: analysis of population-based survey data}, author = {Joel D Bognini and Sekou Samadoulougou and Mady Ouedraogo and Tiga David Kangoye and Carine Van Malderen and Halidou Tinto and Fati Kirakoya-Samadoulougou}, doi = {10.1186/s12939-021-01474-7}, issn = {1475-9276}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-05-21}, urldate = {2021-05-21}, journal = {Int. J. Equity Health}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {124}, publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic inequalities between and within countries lead to disparities in the use of health services. These disparities could lead to child mortality in children under 5 years by depriving them of healthcare. Therefore, initiatives to remove healthcare fees such as the Free Healthcare Initiative (FHCI) adopted in Sierra Leone can contribute to reducing these inequities in healthcare-seeking for children. This study aimed to assess the socioeconomic inequalities in healthcare-seeking for children under 5 years of age before and after the implementation of the FHCI. METHODS: Data were included on 1207, 2815, 1633, and 1476 children under 5 years of age with fever from the 2008, 2013, 2016, and 2019 nationwide surveys, respectively. Concentration curves were drawn for the period before (2008) and after (2013-2019) the implementation of the FHCI to assess socioeconomic inequalities in healthcare-seeking. Finally, Erreyger's corrected concentration indices were calculated to understand the magnitude of these inequalities. RESULTS: Before the implementation of the FHCI, there were inequalities in healthcare-seeking for children under five (Erreyger's corrected concentration index (CI) = 0.168, standard error (SE) = 0.049; p < 0.001) in favor of the wealthy households. These inequalities decreased after the implementation of the FHCI (CI = 0.061, SE = 0.033; p = 0.06 in 2013, CI = 0.039, SE = 0.04; p = 0.32 in 2016, and CI = - 0.0005, SE = 0.362; p = 0.98 in 2019). Furthermore, before the implementation of the FHCI, a significant pro-rich inequality in the districts of Kenema (CI = 0.117, SE = 0.168, p = 0.021), Kono (CI = 0.175, SE = 0.078, p = 0.028) and Western Area Urban (CI = 0.070, SE = 0.032, p = 0.031) has been observed. After the implementation of the FHCI in 2019, these disparities were reduced, 11 of the 14 districts had a CI around the value of equality, and only in 2 districts the pro-rich inequality were significant (Western Area Urban (CI = 0.035, SE = 0.016, p = 0.039) and Western Area Rural (CI = 0.066, SE = 0.030, p = 0.027)). CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that socio-economic inequalities in healthcare-seeking for children have been considerably reduced after the FHCI in Sierra Leone. To further reduce these inequalities, policy actions can focus on the increase of availability of health services in the districts where the healthcare-seeking remained pro-rich.}, note = {PMID: 34020665 PMCID: PMC8140517}, keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Child, Children under five, Delivery of Health Care/economics, Female, Health Care Surveys, Healthcare Disparities/economics/statistics \& numerical data, Healthcare utilization, Humans, Infant, Male, Parents/psychology, Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics \& numerical data, Preschool, Sierra Leone, Socioeconomic Factors, Young Adult}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic inequalities between and within countries lead to disparities in the use of health services. These disparities could lead to child mortality in children under 5 years by depriving them of healthcare. Therefore, initiatives to remove healthcare fees such as the Free Healthcare Initiative (FHCI) adopted in Sierra Leone can contribute to reducing these inequities in healthcare-seeking for children. This study aimed to assess the socioeconomic inequalities in healthcare-seeking for children under 5 years of age before and after the implementation of the FHCI. METHODS: Data were included on 1207, 2815, 1633, and 1476 children under 5 years of age with fever from the 2008, 2013, 2016, and 2019 nationwide surveys, respectively. Concentration curves were drawn for the period before (2008) and after (2013-2019) the implementation of the FHCI to assess socioeconomic inequalities in healthcare-seeking. Finally, Erreyger’s corrected concentration indices were calculated to understand the magnitude of these inequalities. RESULTS: Before the implementation of the FHCI, there were inequalities in healthcare-seeking for children under five (Erreyger’s corrected concentration index (CI) = 0.168, standard error (SE) = 0.049; p < 0.001) in favor of the wealthy households. These inequalities decreased after the implementation of the FHCI (CI = 0.061, SE = 0.033; p = 0.06 in 2013, CI = 0.039, SE = 0.04; p = 0.32 in 2016, and CI = - 0.0005, SE = 0.362; p = 0.98 in 2019). Furthermore, before the implementation of the FHCI, a significant pro-rich inequality in the districts of Kenema (CI = 0.117, SE = 0.168, p = 0.021), Kono (CI = 0.175, SE = 0.078, p = 0.028) and Western Area Urban (CI = 0.070, SE = 0.032, p = 0.031) has been observed. After the implementation of the FHCI in 2019, these disparities were reduced, 11 of the 14 districts had a CI around the value of equality, and only in 2 districts the pro-rich inequality were significant (Western Area Urban (CI = 0.035, SE = 0.016, p = 0.039) and Western Area Rural (CI = 0.066, SE = 0.030, p = 0.027)). CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that socio-economic inequalities in healthcare-seeking for children have been considerably reduced after the FHCI in Sierra Leone. To further reduce these inequalities, policy actions can focus on the increase of availability of health services in the districts where the healthcare-seeking remained pro-rich. Close doi:10.1186/s12939-021-01474-7 Close
	Yeka Adoke, Rella Zoleko-Manego, Serge Ouoba, Alfred B Tiono, Grace Kaguthi, Juv^encio Eduardo Bonzela, Tran Thanh Duong, Alain Nahum, Marielle Bouyou-Akotet, Bernhards Ogutu, Alphonse Ouedraogo, Fiona Macintyre, Andreas Jessel, Bart Laurijssens, Mohammed H Cherkaoui-Rbati, Cathy Cantalloube, Anne Claire Marrast, Rapha"el Bejuit, David White, Timothy N C Wells, Florian Wartha, Didier Leroy, Afizi Kibuuka, Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma, Daouda Ouattara, Ir`ene Mugenya, Bui Quang Phuc, Francis Bohissou, Denise P Mawili-Mboumba, Fredrick Olewe, Issiaka Soulama, Halidou Tinto, FALCI Study Group A randomized, double-blind, phase 2b study to investigate the efficacy, safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of a single-dose regimen of ferroquine with artefenomel in adults and children with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria (Journal Article) In: Malar. J., vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 222, 2021, ISSN: 1475-2875, (PMID: 34011358 PMCID: PMC8135182). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Adamantane/administration & dosage/analogs & derivatives, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aminoquinolines/administration & dosage, Benin, Burkina Faso, C580Y, Child, Combination treatment, Double-Blind Method, Drug Combinations, Exposure–response, Falciparum/prevention & control, Female, Ferroquine, Ferrous Compounds/administration & dosage, Gabon, Humans, Infant, Kelch-13 mutation, Kenya, Malaria, Male, Metallocenes/administration & dosage, Middle Aged, Mozambique, Parasite clearance, Peroxides/administration & dosage, Pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, Plasmodium falciparum/drug effects, Preschool, resistance, Uganda, Vietnam, Vomiting, Young Adult) Close @article{Adoke2021-el, title = {A randomized, double-blind, phase 2b study to investigate the efficacy, safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of a single-dose regimen of ferroquine with artefenomel in adults and children with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria}, author = {Yeka Adoke and Rella Zoleko-Manego and Serge Ouoba and Alfred B Tiono and Grace Kaguthi and Juv^encio Eduardo Bonzela and Tran Thanh Duong and Alain Nahum and Marielle Bouyou-Akotet and Bernhards Ogutu and Alphonse Ouedraogo and Fiona Macintyre and Andreas Jessel and Bart Laurijssens and Mohammed H Cherkaoui-Rbati and Cathy Cantalloube and Anne Claire Marrast and Rapha"el Bejuit and David White and Timothy N C Wells and Florian Wartha and Didier Leroy and Afizi Kibuuka and Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma and Daouda Ouattara and Ir`ene Mugenya and Bui Quang Phuc and Francis Bohissou and Denise P Mawili-Mboumba and Fredrick Olewe and Issiaka Soulama and Halidou Tinto and FALCI Study Group}, doi = {10.1186/s12936-021-03749-4}, issn = {1475-2875}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-05-19}, urldate = {2021-05-19}, journal = {Malar. J.}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {222}, publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: For uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria, highly efficacious single-dose treatments are expected to increase compliance and improve treatment outcomes, and thereby may slow the development of resistance. The efficacy and safety of a single-dose combination of artefenomel (800 mg) plus ferroquine (400/600/900/1200 mg doses) for the treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria were evaluated in Africa (focusing on children $\leq$ 5 years) and Asia. METHODS: The study was a randomized, double-blind, single-dose, multi-arm clinical trial in patients aged > 6 months to 5 years and 20 Asian patients. None of the treatment arms met the target efficacy criterion for PCR-adjusted ACPR at Day 28 (lower limit of 95% confidence interval [CI] > 90%). PCR-adjusted ACPR at Day 28 [95% CI] in the PP Set ranged from 78.4% [64.7; 88.7%] to 91.7% [81.6; 97.2%] for the 400 mg to 1200 mg ferroquine dose. Efficacy rates were low in Vietnamese patients, ranging from 20 to 40%. A clear relationship was found between drug exposure (artefenomel and ferroquine concentrations at Day 7) and efficacy (primary endpoint), with higher concentrations of both drugs resulting in higher efficacy. Six distinct kelch-13 mutations were detected in parasite isolates from 10/272 African patients (with 2 mutations known to be associated with artemisinin resistance) and 18/20 Asian patients (all C580Y mutation). Vomiting within 6 h of initial artefenomel administration was common (24.6%) and associated with lower drug exposures. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of artefenomel/ferroquine combination was suboptimal in African children aged $\leq$ 5 years, the population of interest, and vomiting most likely had a negative impact on efficacy. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02497612. Registered 14 Jul 2015, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02497612?term=NCT02497612\&draw=2\&rank=1.}, note = {PMID: 34011358 PMCID: PMC8135182}, keywords = {Adamantane/administration \& dosage/analogs \& derivatives, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aminoquinolines/administration \& dosage, Benin, Burkina Faso, C580Y, Child, Combination treatment, Double-Blind Method, Drug Combinations, Exposure\textendashresponse, Falciparum/prevention \& control, Female, Ferroquine, Ferrous Compounds/administration \& dosage, Gabon, Humans, Infant, Kelch-13 mutation, Kenya, Malaria, Male, Metallocenes/administration \& dosage, Middle Aged, Mozambique, Parasite clearance, Peroxides/administration \& dosage, Pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, Plasmodium falciparum/drug effects, Preschool, resistance, Uganda, Vietnam, Vomiting, Young Adult}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: For uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria, highly efficacious single-dose treatments are expected to increase compliance and improve treatment outcomes, and thereby may slow the development of resistance. The efficacy and safety of a single-dose combination of artefenomel (800 mg) plus ferroquine (400/600/900/1200 mg doses) for the treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria were evaluated in Africa (focusing on children $łeq$ 5 years) and Asia. METHODS: The study was a randomized, double-blind, single-dose, multi-arm clinical trial in patients aged > 6 months to 5 years and 20 Asian patients. None of the treatment arms met the target efficacy criterion for PCR-adjusted ACPR at Day 28 (lower limit of 95% confidence interval [CI] > 90%). PCR-adjusted ACPR at Day 28 [95% CI] in the PP Set ranged from 78.4% [64.7; 88.7%] to 91.7% [81.6; 97.2%] for the 400 mg to 1200 mg ferroquine dose. Efficacy rates were low in Vietnamese patients, ranging from 20 to 40%. A clear relationship was found between drug exposure (artefenomel and ferroquine concentrations at Day 7) and efficacy (primary endpoint), with higher concentrations of both drugs resulting in higher efficacy. Six distinct kelch-13 mutations were detected in parasite isolates from 10/272 African patients (with 2 mutations known to be associated with artemisinin resistance) and 18/20 Asian patients (all C580Y mutation). Vomiting within 6 h of initial artefenomel administration was common (24.6%) and associated with lower drug exposures. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of artefenomel/ferroquine combination was suboptimal in African children aged $łeq$ 5 years, the population of interest, and vomiting most likely had a negative impact on efficacy. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02497612. Registered 14 Jul 2015, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02497612?term=NCT02497612&draw=2&rank=1. Close doi:10.1186/s12936-021-03749-4 Close

33 entries « ‹ 1 of 2 › »

2022
Journal Articles
	Palwende Romuald Boua, Jean-Tristan Brandenburg, Ananyo Choudhury, Hermann Sorgho, Engelbert A. Nonterah, Godfred Agongo, Gershim Asiki, Lisa Micklesfield, Solomon Choma, Francesc Xavier Gómez-Olivé, Scott Hazelhurst, Halidou Tinto, Nigel J. Crowther, Christopher G. Mathew, Michèle Ramsay Genetic associations with carotid intima-media thickness link to atherosclerosis with sex-specific effects in sub-Saharan Africans. (Journal Article) In: Nature communications, vol. 13, iss. 1, pp. 855, 2022. (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Adult, Africa South of the Sahara, Atherosclerosis/genetics/pathology, Autoantigens/genetics, Cardiovascular Diseases/genetics, Carotid Intima-Media Thickness/statistics & numerical data, Endocrine-Gland-Derived/genetics, Female, Gastrointestinal Hormones/genetics, Genetic Predisposition to Disease/genetics, Genome/genetics, Histones/genetics, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Polymorphism, Ribonucleoproteins/genetics, Sex Factors, Single Nucleotide/genetics, Sorting Nexins/genetics, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) Close @article{Boua2022, title = {Genetic associations with carotid intima-media thickness link to atherosclerosis with sex-specific effects in sub-Saharan Africans.}, author = {Palwende Romuald Boua and Jean-Tristan Brandenburg and Ananyo Choudhury and Hermann Sorgho and Engelbert A. Nonterah and Godfred Agongo and Gershim Asiki and Lisa Micklesfield and Solomon Choma and Francesc Xavier G\'{o}mez-Oliv\'{e} and Scott Hazelhurst and Halidou Tinto and Nigel J. Crowther and Christopher G. Mathew and Mich\`{e}le Ramsay}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-022-28276-x}, year = {2022}, date = {2022-02-01}, urldate = {2022-02-01}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {13}, issue = {1}, pages = {855}, abstract = {Atherosclerosis precedes the onset of clinical manifestations of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We used carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) to investigate genetic susceptibility to atherosclerosis in 7894 unrelated adults (3963 women, 3931 men; 40 to 60 years) resident in four sub-Saharan African countries. cIMT was measured by ultrasound and genotyping was performed on the H3Africa SNP Array. Two new African-specific genome-wide significant loci for mean-max cIMT, SIRPA (p = 4.7E-08), and FBXL17 (p = 2.5E-08), were identified. Sex-stratified analysis revealed associations with one male-specific locus, SNX29 (p = 6.3E-09), and two female-specific loci, LARP6 (p = 2.4E-09) and PROK1 (p = 1.0E-08). We replicate previous cIMT associations with different lead SNPs in linkage disequilibrium with SNPs primarily identified in European populations. Our study find significant enrichment for genes involved in oestrogen response from female-specific signals. The genes identified show biological relevance to atherosclerosis and/or CVDs, sex-differences and transferability of signals from non-African studies.}, keywords = {Adult, Africa South of the Sahara, Atherosclerosis/genetics/pathology, Autoantigens/genetics, Cardiovascular Diseases/genetics, Carotid Intima-Media Thickness/statistics \& numerical data, Endocrine-Gland-Derived/genetics, Female, Gastrointestinal Hormones/genetics, Genetic Predisposition to Disease/genetics, Genome/genetics, Histones/genetics, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Polymorphism, Ribonucleoproteins/genetics, Sex Factors, Single Nucleotide/genetics, Sorting Nexins/genetics, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close Atherosclerosis precedes the onset of clinical manifestations of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We used carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) to investigate genetic susceptibility to atherosclerosis in 7894 unrelated adults (3963 women, 3931 men; 40 to 60 years) resident in four sub-Saharan African countries. cIMT was measured by ultrasound and genotyping was performed on the H3Africa SNP Array. Two new African-specific genome-wide significant loci for mean-max cIMT, SIRPA (p = 4.7E-08), and FBXL17 (p = 2.5E-08), were identified. Sex-stratified analysis revealed associations with one male-specific locus, SNX29 (p = 6.3E-09), and two female-specific loci, LARP6 (p = 2.4E-09) and PROK1 (p = 1.0E-08). We replicate previous cIMT associations with different lead SNPs in linkage disequilibrium with SNPs primarily identified in European populations. Our study find significant enrichment for genes involved in oestrogen response from female-specific signals. The genes identified show biological relevance to atherosclerosis and/or CVDs, sex-differences and transferability of signals from non-African studies. Close doi:10.1038/s41467-022-28276-x Close
	Jane Grant, Issaka Sagara, Issaka Zongo, Matthew Cairns, Rakiswendé Serge Yerbanga, Modibo Diarra, Charles Zoungrana, Djibrilla Issiaka, Frédéric Nikièma, Frédéric Sompougdou, Amadou Tapily, Mahamadou Kaya, Alassane Haro, Koualy Sanogo, Abdoul Aziz Sienou, Seydou Traore, Ismaila Thera, Hama Yalcouye, Irene Kuepfer, Paul Snell, Paul Milligan, Christian Ockenhouse, Opokua Ofori-Anyinam, Halidou Tinto, Abdoulaye Djimde, Daniel Chandramohan, Brian Greenwood, Alassane Dicko, Jean-Bosco Ouédraogo Impact of seasonal RTS,S/AS01(E) vaccination plus seasonal malaria chemoprevention on the nutritional status of children in Burkina Faso and Mali. (Journal Article) In: Malaria journal, vol. 21, iss. 1, pp. 59, 2022. (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Antimalarials/therapeutic use, Malaria/drug therapy/epidemiology/prevention & control, Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Chemoprevention, Child, Cross-Sectional Studies, Humans, Infant, Malaria, Mali, Mali/epidemiology, Nutrition, Nutritional Status, Preschool, RTS, S/AS01E, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, Seasons, Vaccination) Close @article{Grant2022, title = {Impact of seasonal RTS,S/AS01(E) vaccination plus seasonal malaria chemoprevention on the nutritional status of children in Burkina Faso and Mali.}, author = {Jane Grant and Issaka Sagara and Issaka Zongo and Matthew Cairns and Rakiswend\'{e} Serge Yerbanga and Modibo Diarra and Charles Zoungrana and Djibrilla Issiaka and Fr\'{e}d\'{e}ric Niki\`{e}ma and Fr\'{e}d\'{e}ric Sompougdou and Amadou Tapily and Mahamadou Kaya and Alassane Haro and Koualy Sanogo and Abdoul Aziz Sienou and Seydou Traore and Ismaila Thera and Hama Yalcouye and Irene Kuepfer and Paul Snell and Paul Milligan and Christian Ockenhouse and Opokua Ofori-Anyinam and Halidou Tinto and Abdoulaye Djimde and Daniel Chandramohan and Brian Greenwood and Alassane Dicko and Jean-Bosco Ou\'{e}draogo}, doi = {10.1186/s12936-022-04077-x}, year = {2022}, date = {2022-02-01}, urldate = {2022-02-01}, journal = {Malaria journal}, volume = {21}, issue = {1}, pages = {59}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: A recent trial in Burkina Faso and Mali showed that combining seasonal RTS,S/AS01(E) malaria vaccination with seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) substantially reduced the incidence of uncomplicated and severe malaria in young children compared to either intervention alone. Given the possible negative effect of malaria on nutrition, the study investigated whether these children also experienced lower prevalence of acute and chronic malnutrition. METHODS: In Burkina Faso and Mali 5920 children were randomized to receive either SMC alone, RTS,S/AS01(E) alone, or SMC combined with RTS,S/AS01(E) for three malaria transmission seasons (2017-2019). After each transmission season, anthropometric measurements were collected from all study children at a cross-sectional survey and used to derive nutritional status indicators, including the binary variables wasted and stunted (weight-for-height and height-for-age z-scores below - 2, respectively). Binary and continuous outcomes between treatment groups were compared by Poisson and linear regression. RESULTS: In 2017, compared to SMC alone, the combined intervention reduced the prevalence of wasting by approximately 12% [prevalence ratio (PR) = 0.88 (95% CI 0.75, 1.03)], and approximately 21% in 2018 [PR = 0.79 (95% CI 0.62, 1.01)]. Point estimates were similar for comparisons with RTS,S/AS01(E), but there was stronger evidence of a difference. There was at least a 30% reduction in the point estimates for the prevalence of severe wasting in the combined group compared to the other two groups in 2017 and 2018. There was no difference in the prevalence of moderate or severe wasting between the groups in 2019. The prevalence of stunting, low-MUAC-for-age or being underweight did not differ between groups for any of the three years. The prevalence of severe stunting was higher in the combined group compared to both other groups in 2018, and compared to RTS,S/AS01(E) alone in 2017; this observation does not have an obvious explanation and may be a chance finding. Overall, malnutrition was very common in this cohort, but declined over the study as the children became older. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a high burden of malnutrition and malaria in the study populations, and a major reduction in the incidence of malaria in children receiving both interventions, this had only a modest impact on nutritional status. Therefore, other interventions are needed to reduce the high burden of malnutrition in these areas. TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03143218 , registered 8th May 2017.}, keywords = {Antimalarials/therapeutic use, Malaria/drug therapy/epidemiology/prevention \& control, Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Chemoprevention, Child, Cross-Sectional Studies, Humans, Infant, Malaria, Mali, Mali/epidemiology, Nutrition, Nutritional Status, Preschool, RTS, S/AS01E, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, Seasons, Vaccination}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: A recent trial in Burkina Faso and Mali showed that combining seasonal RTS,S/AS01(E) malaria vaccination with seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) substantially reduced the incidence of uncomplicated and severe malaria in young children compared to either intervention alone. Given the possible negative effect of malaria on nutrition, the study investigated whether these children also experienced lower prevalence of acute and chronic malnutrition. METHODS: In Burkina Faso and Mali 5920 children were randomized to receive either SMC alone, RTS,S/AS01(E) alone, or SMC combined with RTS,S/AS01(E) for three malaria transmission seasons (2017-2019). After each transmission season, anthropometric measurements were collected from all study children at a cross-sectional survey and used to derive nutritional status indicators, including the binary variables wasted and stunted (weight-for-height and height-for-age z-scores below – 2, respectively). Binary and continuous outcomes between treatment groups were compared by Poisson and linear regression. RESULTS: In 2017, compared to SMC alone, the combined intervention reduced the prevalence of wasting by approximately 12% [prevalence ratio (PR) = 0.88 (95% CI 0.75, 1.03)], and approximately 21% in 2018 [PR = 0.79 (95% CI 0.62, 1.01)]. Point estimates were similar for comparisons with RTS,S/AS01(E), but there was stronger evidence of a difference. There was at least a 30% reduction in the point estimates for the prevalence of severe wasting in the combined group compared to the other two groups in 2017 and 2018. There was no difference in the prevalence of moderate or severe wasting between the groups in 2019. The prevalence of stunting, low-MUAC-for-age or being underweight did not differ between groups for any of the three years. The prevalence of severe stunting was higher in the combined group compared to both other groups in 2018, and compared to RTS,S/AS01(E) alone in 2017; this observation does not have an obvious explanation and may be a chance finding. Overall, malnutrition was very common in this cohort, but declined over the study as the children became older. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a high burden of malnutrition and malaria in the study populations, and a major reduction in the incidence of malaria in children receiving both interventions, this had only a modest impact on nutritional status. Therefore, other interventions are needed to reduce the high burden of malnutrition in these areas. TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03143218 , registered 8th May 2017. Close doi:10.1186/s12936-022-04077-x Close
	Estomih Mduma, Tinto Halidou, Berenger Kaboré, Thomas Walongo, Palpouguini Lompo, Justine Museveni, Joshua Gidabayda, Jean Gratz, Godfrey Guga, Caroline Kimathi, Jie Liu, Paschal Mdoe, Robert Moshiro, Max Petzold, Jan Singlovic, Martine Guillerm, Melba F. Gomes, Eric R. Houpt, Christine M. Halleux Etiology of severe invasive infections in young infants in rural settings in sub-Saharan Africa. (Journal Article) In: PloS one, vol. 17, iss. 2, pp. e0264322, 2022. (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Rural Population, Africa South of the Sahara/epidemiology, Bacterial Infections/epidemiology/etiology/microbiology, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Newborn, Patient Acuity) Close @article{Mduma2022, title = {Etiology of severe invasive infections in young infants in rural settings in sub-Saharan Africa.}, author = {Estomih Mduma and Tinto Halidou and Berenger Kabor\'{e} and Thomas Walongo and Palpouguini Lompo and Justine Museveni and Joshua Gidabayda and Jean Gratz and Godfrey Guga and Caroline Kimathi and Jie Liu and Paschal Mdoe and Robert Moshiro and Max Petzold and Jan Singlovic and Martine Guillerm and Melba F. Gomes and Eric R. Houpt and Christine M. Halleux}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0264322}, year = {2022}, date = {2022-01-01}, urldate = {2022-01-01}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {17}, issue = {2}, pages = {e0264322}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Serious invasive infections in newborns are a major cause of death. Lack of data on etiological causes hampers progress towards reduction of mortality. This study aimed to identify pathogens responsible for such infections in young infants in sub-Saharan Africa and to describe their antibiotics resistance profile. METHODS: Between September 2016 and April 2018 we implemented an observational study in two rural sites in Burkina Faso and Tanzania enrolling young infants aged 0-59 days old with serious invasive infection. Blood samples underwent blood culture and molecular biology. RESULTS: In total 634 infants with clinical diagnosis of serious invasive infection were enrolled and 4.2% of the infants had a positive blood culture. The most frequent pathogens identified by blood culture were Klebsiella pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus, followed by Escherichia coli. Gram-negative isolates were only partially susceptible to first line WHO recommended treatment for neonatal sepsis at community level. A total of 18.6% of the infants were PCR positive for at least one pathogen and Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were the most common bacteria detected. Among infants enrolled, 60/634 (9.5%) died. Positive blood culture but not positive PCR was associated with risk of death. For most deaths, no pathogen was identified either by blood culture or molecular testing, and hence a causal agent remained unclear. Mortality was associated with low body temperature, tachycardia, respiratory symptoms, convulsions, history of difficult feeding, movement only when stimulated or reduced level of consciousness, diarrhea and/or vomiting. CONCLUSION: While Klebsiella pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as Escherichia coli were pathogens most frequently identified in infants with clinical suspicion of serious invasive infections, most cases remain without definite diagnosis, making more accurate diagnostic tools urgently needed. Antibiotics resistance to first line antibiotics is an increasing challenge even in rural Africa.}, keywords = {Rural Population, Africa South of the Sahara/epidemiology, Bacterial Infections/epidemiology/etiology/microbiology, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Newborn, Patient Acuity}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: Serious invasive infections in newborns are a major cause of death. Lack of data on etiological causes hampers progress towards reduction of mortality. This study aimed to identify pathogens responsible for such infections in young infants in sub-Saharan Africa and to describe their antibiotics resistance profile. METHODS: Between September 2016 and April 2018 we implemented an observational study in two rural sites in Burkina Faso and Tanzania enrolling young infants aged 0-59 days old with serious invasive infection. Blood samples underwent blood culture and molecular biology. RESULTS: In total 634 infants with clinical diagnosis of serious invasive infection were enrolled and 4.2% of the infants had a positive blood culture. The most frequent pathogens identified by blood culture were Klebsiella pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus, followed by Escherichia coli. Gram-negative isolates were only partially susceptible to first line WHO recommended treatment for neonatal sepsis at community level. A total of 18.6% of the infants were PCR positive for at least one pathogen and Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were the most common bacteria detected. Among infants enrolled, 60/634 (9.5%) died. Positive blood culture but not positive PCR was associated with risk of death. For most deaths, no pathogen was identified either by blood culture or molecular testing, and hence a causal agent remained unclear. Mortality was associated with low body temperature, tachycardia, respiratory symptoms, convulsions, history of difficult feeding, movement only when stimulated or reduced level of consciousness, diarrhea and/or vomiting. CONCLUSION: While Klebsiella pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as Escherichia coli were pathogens most frequently identified in infants with clinical suspicion of serious invasive infections, most cases remain without definite diagnosis, making more accurate diagnostic tools urgently needed. Antibiotics resistance to first line antibiotics is an increasing challenge even in rural Africa. Close doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0264322 Close
	Liesbeth Martens, Bérenger Kaboré, Annelies Post, Christa E. Gaast-de Jongh, Jeroen D. Langereis, Halidou Tinto, Jan Jacobs, André J. Ven, Quirijn Mast, Marien I. Jonge Nasopharyngeal colonisation dynamics of bacterial pathogens in patients with fever in rural Burkina Faso: an observational study. (Journal Article) In: BMC infectious diseases, vol. 22, iss. 1, pp. 15, 2022. (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Carrier State/epidemiology, Staphylococcus aureus, Adult, Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Child, Female, Haemophilus influenzae, Humans, Infant, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Male, Moraxella catarrhalis, Nasopharyngeal carriage, Nasopharynx, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae) Close @article{Martens2022, title = {Nasopharyngeal colonisation dynamics of bacterial pathogens in patients with fever in rural Burkina Faso: an observational study.}, author = {Liesbeth Martens and B\'{e}renger Kabor\'{e} and Annelies Post and Christa E. Gaast-de Jongh and Jeroen D. Langereis and Halidou Tinto and Jan Jacobs and Andr\'{e} J. Ven and Quirijn Mast and Marien I. Jonge}, doi = {10.1186/s12879-021-06996-7}, year = {2022}, date = {2022-01-01}, urldate = {2022-01-01}, journal = {BMC infectious diseases}, volume = {22}, issue = {1}, pages = {15}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal colonisation with clinically relevant bacterial pathogens is a risk factor for severe infections, such as pneumonia and bacteraemia. In this study, we investigated the determinants of nasopharyngeal carriage in febrile patients in rural Burkina Faso. METHODS: From March 2016 to June 2017, we recruited 924 paediatric and adult patients presenting with fever, hypothermia or suspicion of severe infection to the Centre Medical avec Antenne Chirurgicale Saint Camille de Nanoro, Burkina Faso. We recorded a broad range of clinical data, collected nasopharyngeal swabs and tested them for the presence of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Using logistic regression, we investigated the determinants of carriage and aimed to find correlations with clinical outcome. RESULTS: Nasopharyngeal colonisation with S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis was highly prevalent and strongly dependent on age and season. Females were less likely to be colonised with S. pneumoniae (OR 0.71}, keywords = {Carrier State/epidemiology, Staphylococcus aureus, Adult, Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Child, Female, Haemophilus influenzae, Humans, Infant, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Male, Moraxella catarrhalis, Nasopharyngeal carriage, Nasopharynx, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal colonisation with clinically relevant bacterial pathogens is a risk factor for severe infections, such as pneumonia and bacteraemia. In this study, we investigated the determinants of nasopharyngeal carriage in febrile patients in rural Burkina Faso. METHODS: From March 2016 to June 2017, we recruited 924 paediatric and adult patients presenting with fever, hypothermia or suspicion of severe infection to the Centre Medical avec Antenne Chirurgicale Saint Camille de Nanoro, Burkina Faso. We recorded a broad range of clinical data, collected nasopharyngeal swabs and tested them for the presence of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Using logistic regression, we investigated the determinants of carriage and aimed to find correlations with clinical outcome. RESULTS: Nasopharyngeal colonisation with S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis was highly prevalent and strongly dependent on age and season. Females were less likely to be colonised with S. pneumoniae (OR 0.71 Close doi:10.1186/s12879-021-06996-7 Close
2021
Journal Articles
	Rafael Dal-Ré, Linda-Gail Bekker, Christian Gluud, Søren Holm, Vivekanand Jha, Gregory A Poland, Frits R Rosendaal, Brigitte Schwarzer-Daum, Esperanc ca Sevene, Halidou Tinto, Teck Chuan Voo, Nadarajah Sreeharan Ongoing and future COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials: challenges and opportunities (Journal Article) In: Lancet Infect. Dis., vol. 21, no. 11, pp. e342–e347, 2021, ISSN: 1474-4457 1473-3099, (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. PMID: 34019801 PMCID: PMC8131060). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Clinical Trials as Topic, COVID-19 Vaccines/administration & dosage/immunology, COVID-19/epidemiology/immunology/prevention & control/virology, Double-Blind Method, Humans, Immunogenicity, Pandemics/prevention & control, SARS-CoV-2/immunology, Vaccine) Close @article{Dal-Re2021-mr, title = {Ongoing and future COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials: challenges and opportunities}, author = {Rafael Dal-R\'{e} and Linda-Gail Bekker and Christian Gluud and S\oren Holm and Vivekanand Jha and Gregory A Poland and Frits R Rosendaal and Brigitte Schwarzer-Daum and Esperanc ca Sevene and Halidou Tinto and Teck Chuan Voo and Nadarajah Sreeharan}, doi = {10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00263-2}, issn = {1474-4457 1473-3099}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-11-01}, urldate = {2021-11-01}, journal = {Lancet Infect. Dis.}, volume = {21}, number = {11}, pages = {e342--e347}, abstract = {Large-scale deployment of COVID-19 vaccines will seriously affect the ongoing phases 2 and 3 randomised placebo-controlled trials assessing SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates. The effect will be particularly acute in high-income countries where the entire adult or older population could be vaccinated by late 2021. Regrettably, only a small proportion of the population in many low-income and middle-income countries will have access to available vaccines. Sponsors of COVID-19 vaccine candidates currently in phase 2 or initiating phase 3 trials in 2021 should consider continuing the research in countries with limited affordability and availability of COVID-19 vaccines. Several ethical principles must be implemented to ensure the equitable, non-exploitative, and respectful conduct of trials in resource-poor settings. Once sufficient knowledge on the immunogenicity response to COVID-19 vaccines is acquired, non-inferiority immunogenicity trials-comparing the immune response of a vaccine candidate to that of an authorised vaccine-would probably be the most common trial design. Until then, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover trials will continue to play a role in the development of new vaccine candidates. WHO or the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences should define an ethical framework for the requirements and benefits for trial participants and host communities in resource-poor settings that should require commitment from all vaccine candidate sponsors from high-income countries.}, note = {Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. PMID: 34019801 PMCID: PMC8131060}, keywords = {Clinical Trials as Topic, COVID-19 Vaccines/administration \& dosage/immunology, COVID-19/epidemiology/immunology/prevention \& control/virology, Double-Blind Method, Humans, Immunogenicity, Pandemics/prevention \& control, SARS-CoV-2/immunology, Vaccine}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close Large-scale deployment of COVID-19 vaccines will seriously affect the ongoing phases 2 and 3 randomised placebo-controlled trials assessing SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates. The effect will be particularly acute in high-income countries where the entire adult or older population could be vaccinated by late 2021. Regrettably, only a small proportion of the population in many low-income and middle-income countries will have access to available vaccines. Sponsors of COVID-19 vaccine candidates currently in phase 2 or initiating phase 3 trials in 2021 should consider continuing the research in countries with limited affordability and availability of COVID-19 vaccines. Several ethical principles must be implemented to ensure the equitable, non-exploitative, and respectful conduct of trials in resource-poor settings. Once sufficient knowledge on the immunogenicity response to COVID-19 vaccines is acquired, non-inferiority immunogenicity trials-comparing the immune response of a vaccine candidate to that of an authorised vaccine-would probably be the most common trial design. Until then, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover trials will continue to play a role in the development of new vaccine candidates. WHO or the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences should define an ethical framework for the requirements and benefits for trial participants and host communities in resource-poor settings that should require commitment from all vaccine candidate sponsors from high-income countries. Close doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00263-2 Close
	Serge Ouoba, Jean Claude Romaric Pingdwinde Ouedraogo, Moussa Lingani, Bunthen E, Md Razeen Ashraf Hussain, Ko Ko, Shintaro Nagashima, Aya Sugiyama, Tomoyuki Akita, Halidou Tinto, Junko Tanaka Epidemiologic profile of hepatitis C virus infection and genotype distribution in Burkina Faso: a systematic review with meta-analysis (Journal Article) In: BMC Infect. Dis., vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 1126, 2021, ISSN: 1471-2334, (© 2021. The Author(s). PMID: 34724902 PMCID: PMC8561994). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Genotype, Hepacivirus/genetics, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis C/epidemiology, Humans, Prevalence, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Seroprevalence, Systematic review) Close @article{Ouoba2021-ug, title = {Epidemiologic profile of hepatitis C virus infection and genotype distribution in Burkina Faso: a systematic review with meta-analysis}, author = {Serge Ouoba and Jean Claude Romaric Pingdwinde Ouedraogo and Moussa Lingani and Bunthen E and Md Razeen Ashraf Hussain and Ko Ko and Shintaro Nagashima and Aya Sugiyama and Tomoyuki Akita and Halidou Tinto and Junko Tanaka}, doi = {10.1186/s12879-021-06817-x}, issn = {1471-2334}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-11-01}, urldate = {2021-11-01}, journal = {BMC Infect. Dis.}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {1126}, publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Detailed characteristics of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Burkina Faso are scarce. The main aim of this study was to assess HCV seroprevalence in various settings and populations at risk in Burkina Faso between 1990 and 2020. Secondary objectives included the prevalence of HCV Ribonucleic acid (RNA) and the distribution of HCV genotypes. METHODS: A systematic database search, supplemented by a manual search, was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and African Index Medicus. Studies reporting HCV seroprevalence data in low and high-risk populations in Burkina Faso were included, and a random-effects meta-analysis was applied. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs institute checklist. RESULTS: Low-risk populations were examined in 31 studies involving a total of 168,151 subjects, of whom 8330 were positive for HCV antibodies. Six studies included a total of 1484 high-risk persons, and 96 had antibodies to HCV. The pooled seroprevalence in low-risk populations was 3.72% (95% CI: 3.20-4.28) and 4.75% (95% CI: 1.79-8.94) in high-risk groups. A non-significant decreasing trend was observed over the study period. Seven studies tested HCV RNA in a total of 4759 individuals at low risk for HCV infection, and 81 were positive. The meta-analysis of HCV RNA yielded a pooled prevalence of 1.65% (95% CI: 0.74-2.89%) in low-risk populations, which is assumed to be indicative of HCV prevalence in the general population of Burkina Faso and suggests that about 301,174 people are active HCV carriers in the country. Genotypes 2 and 1 were the most frequent, with 60.3% and 25.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: HCV seroprevalence is intermediate in Burkina Faso and indicates the need to implement effective control strategies. There is a paucity of data at the national level and for rural and high-risk populations. General population screening and linkage to care are recommended, with special attention to rural and high-risk populations.}, note = {© 2021. The Author(s). PMID: 34724902 PMCID: PMC8561994}, keywords = {Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Genotype, Hepacivirus/genetics, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis C/epidemiology, Humans, Prevalence, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Seroprevalence, Systematic review}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: Detailed characteristics of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Burkina Faso are scarce. The main aim of this study was to assess HCV seroprevalence in various settings and populations at risk in Burkina Faso between 1990 and 2020. Secondary objectives included the prevalence of HCV Ribonucleic acid (RNA) and the distribution of HCV genotypes. METHODS: A systematic database search, supplemented by a manual search, was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and African Index Medicus. Studies reporting HCV seroprevalence data in low and high-risk populations in Burkina Faso were included, and a random-effects meta-analysis was applied. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs institute checklist. RESULTS: Low-risk populations were examined in 31 studies involving a total of 168,151 subjects, of whom 8330 were positive for HCV antibodies. Six studies included a total of 1484 high-risk persons, and 96 had antibodies to HCV. The pooled seroprevalence in low-risk populations was 3.72% (95% CI: 3.20-4.28) and 4.75% (95% CI: 1.79-8.94) in high-risk groups. A non-significant decreasing trend was observed over the study period. Seven studies tested HCV RNA in a total of 4759 individuals at low risk for HCV infection, and 81 were positive. The meta-analysis of HCV RNA yielded a pooled prevalence of 1.65% (95% CI: 0.74-2.89%) in low-risk populations, which is assumed to be indicative of HCV prevalence in the general population of Burkina Faso and suggests that about 301,174 people are active HCV carriers in the country. Genotypes 2 and 1 were the most frequent, with 60.3% and 25.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: HCV seroprevalence is intermediate in Burkina Faso and indicates the need to implement effective control strategies. There is a paucity of data at the national level and for rural and high-risk populations. General population screening and linkage to care are recommended, with special attention to rural and high-risk populations. Close doi:10.1186/s12879-021-06817-x Close
	Mphatso Dennis Phiri, Matthew Cairns, Issaka Zongo, Frederic Nikiema, Modibo Diarra, Rakiswendé Serge Yerbanga, Amadou Barry, Amadou Tapily, Samba Coumare, Ismaila Thera, Irene Kuepfer, Paul Milligan, Halidou Tinto, Alassane Dicko, Jean Bosco Ouédraogo, Brian Greenwood, Daniel Chandramohan, Issaka Sagara The duration of protection from azithromycin against malaria, acute respiratory, gastrointestinal, and skin infections when given alongside seasonal malaria chemoprevention: Secondary analyses of data from a clinical trial in houndé, Burkina Faso, and bougouni, Mali (Journal Article) In: Clin. Infect. Dis., vol. 73, no. 7, pp. e2379–e2386, 2021, ISSN: 1537-6591 1058-4838, (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. PMID: 33417683 PMCID: PMC8492219). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Antimalarials/therapeutic use, Azithromycin, Azithromycin/therapeutic use, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Chemoprevention, Child, child mortality, Drug Combinations, duration of protection, Humans, Infant, Malaria/drug therapy/epidemiology/prevention & control, Mali/epidemiology, Preschool, Sahel, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, Seasons) Close @article{Phiri2021-oy, title = {The duration of protection from azithromycin against malaria, acute respiratory, gastrointestinal, and skin infections when given alongside seasonal malaria chemoprevention: Secondary analyses of data from a clinical trial in hound\'{e}, Burkina Faso, and bougouni, Mali}, author = {Mphatso Dennis Phiri and Matthew Cairns and Issaka Zongo and Frederic Nikiema and Modibo Diarra and Rakiswend\'{e} Serge Yerbanga and Amadou Barry and Amadou Tapily and Samba Coumare and Ismaila Thera and Irene Kuepfer and Paul Milligan and Halidou Tinto and Alassane Dicko and Jean Bosco Ou\'{e}draogo and Brian Greenwood and Daniel Chandramohan and Issaka Sagara}, doi = {10.1093/cid/ciaa1905}, issn = {1537-6591 1058-4838}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-10-01}, urldate = {2021-10-01}, journal = {Clin. Infect. Dis.}, volume = {73}, number = {7}, pages = {e2379--e2386}, publisher = {Oxford University Press (OUP)}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Mass drug administration (MDA) with azithromycin (AZ) is being considered as a strategy to promote child survival in sub-Saharan Africa, but the mechanism by which AZ reduces mortality is unclear. To better understand the nature and extent of protection provided by AZ, we explored the profile of protection by time since administration, using data from a household-randomized, placebo-controlled trial in Burkina Faso and Mali. METHODS: Between 2014 and 2016, 30 977 children aged 3-59 months received seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine plus amodiaquine and either AZ or placebo monthly, on 4 occasions each year. Poisson regression with gamma-distributed random effects, accounting for the household randomization and within-individual clustering of illness episodes, was used to compare incidence of prespecified outcomes between SMC+AZ versus SMC+placebo groups in fixed time strata post-treatment. The likelihood ratio test was used to assess evidence for a time-treatment group interaction. RESULTS: Relative to SMC+placebo, there was no evidence of protection from SMC+AZ against hospital admissions and deaths. Additional protection from SMC+AZ against malaria was confined to the first 2 weeks post-administration (protective efficacy (PE): 24.2% [95% CI: 17.8%, 30.1%]). Gastroenteritis and pneumonia were reduced by 29.9% [21.7; 37.3%], and 34.3% [14.9; 49.3%], respectively, in the first 2 weeks postadministration. Protection against nonmalaria fevers with a skin condition persisted up to 28 days: PE: 46.3% [35.1; 55.6%]. CONCLUSIONS: The benefits of AZ-MDA are broad-ranging but short-lived. To maximize impact, timing of AZ-MDA must address the challenge of targeting asynchronous morbidity and mortality peaks from different causes.}, note = {© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. PMID: 33417683 PMCID: PMC8492219}, keywords = {Antimalarials/therapeutic use, Azithromycin, Azithromycin/therapeutic use, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Chemoprevention, Child, child mortality, Drug Combinations, duration of protection, Humans, Infant, Malaria/drug therapy/epidemiology/prevention \& control, Mali/epidemiology, Preschool, Sahel, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, Seasons}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: Mass drug administration (MDA) with azithromycin (AZ) is being considered as a strategy to promote child survival in sub-Saharan Africa, but the mechanism by which AZ reduces mortality is unclear. To better understand the nature and extent of protection provided by AZ, we explored the profile of protection by time since administration, using data from a household-randomized, placebo-controlled trial in Burkina Faso and Mali. METHODS: Between 2014 and 2016, 30 977 children aged 3-59 months received seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine plus amodiaquine and either AZ or placebo monthly, on 4 occasions each year. Poisson regression with gamma-distributed random effects, accounting for the household randomization and within-individual clustering of illness episodes, was used to compare incidence of prespecified outcomes between SMC+AZ versus SMC+placebo groups in fixed time strata post-treatment. The likelihood ratio test was used to assess evidence for a time-treatment group interaction. RESULTS: Relative to SMC+placebo, there was no evidence of protection from SMC+AZ against hospital admissions and deaths. Additional protection from SMC+AZ against malaria was confined to the first 2 weeks post-administration (protective efficacy (PE): 24.2% [95% CI: 17.8%, 30.1%]). Gastroenteritis and pneumonia were reduced by 29.9% [21.7; 37.3%], and 34.3% [14.9; 49.3%], respectively, in the first 2 weeks postadministration. Protection against nonmalaria fevers with a skin condition persisted up to 28 days: PE: 46.3% [35.1; 55.6%]. CONCLUSIONS: The benefits of AZ-MDA are broad-ranging but short-lived. To maximize impact, timing of AZ-MDA must address the challenge of targeting asynchronous morbidity and mortality peaks from different causes. Close doi:10.1093/cid/ciaa1905 Close
	Daniel Chandramohan, Issaka Zongo, Issaka Sagara, Matthew Cairns, Rakiswendé-Serge Yerbanga, Modibo Diarra, Frédéric Niki`ema, Amadou Tapily, Frédéric Sompougdou, Djibrilla Issiaka, Charles Zoungrana, Koualy Sanogo, Alassane Haro, Mahamadou Kaya, Abdoul-Aziz Sienou, Seydou Traore, Almahamoudou Mahamar, Ismaila Thera, Kalifa Diarra, Amagana Dolo, Irene Kuepfer, Paul Snell, Paul Milligan, Christian Ockenhouse, Opokua Ofori-Anyinam, Halidou Tinto, Abdoulaye Djimde, Jean-Bosco Ouédraogo, Alassane Dicko, Brian Greenwood Seasonal malaria vaccination with or without seasonal malaria chemoprevention (Journal Article) In: N. Engl. J. Med., vol. 385, no. 11, pp. 1005–1017, 2021, ISSN: 1533-4406 0028-4793, (Copyright © 2021 Massachusetts Medical Society. Place: United States PMID: 34432975). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Amodiaquine/therapeutic use, Antimalarials/adverse effects/therapeutic use, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Chemoprevention, Combination, Combined Modality Therapy, Double-Blind Method, Drug Combinations, Drug Therapy, Falciparum/epidemiology/mortality/prevention & control, Febrile/etiology, Female, Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data, Humans, Infant, Malaria, Malaria Vaccines/administration & dosage/adverse effects, Male, Mali/epidemiology, Pyrimethamine/therapeutic use, Seasons, Seizures, Sulfadoxine/therapeutic use) Close @article{Chandramohan2021-qm, title = {Seasonal malaria vaccination with or without seasonal malaria chemoprevention}, author = {Daniel Chandramohan and Issaka Zongo and Issaka Sagara and Matthew Cairns and Rakiswend\'{e}-Serge Yerbanga and Modibo Diarra and Fr\'{e}d\'{e}ric Niki`ema and Amadou Tapily and Fr\'{e}d\'{e}ric Sompougdou and Djibrilla Issiaka and Charles Zoungrana and Koualy Sanogo and Alassane Haro and Mahamadou Kaya and Abdoul-Aziz Sienou and Seydou Traore and Almahamoudou Mahamar and Ismaila Thera and Kalifa Diarra and Amagana Dolo and Irene Kuepfer and Paul Snell and Paul Milligan and Christian Ockenhouse and Opokua Ofori-Anyinam and Halidou Tinto and Abdoulaye Djimde and Jean-Bosco Ou\'{e}draogo and Alassane Dicko and Brian Greenwood}, doi = {10.1056/NEJMoa2026330}, issn = {1533-4406 0028-4793}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-09-09}, urldate = {2021-09-09}, journal = {N. Engl. J. Med.}, volume = {385}, number = {11}, pages = {1005--1017}, publisher = {Massachusetts Medical Society}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Malaria control remains a challenge in many parts of the Sahel and sub-Sahel regions of Africa. METHODS: We conducted an individually randomized, controlled trial to assess whether seasonal vaccination with RTS,S/AS01E was noninferior to chemoprevention in preventing uncomplicated malaria and whether the two interventions combined were superior to either one alone in preventing uncomplicated malaria and severe malaria-related outcomes. RESULTS: We randomly assigned 6861 children 5 to 17 months of age to receive sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and amodiaquine (2287 children [chemoprevention-alone group]), RTS,S/AS01E (2288 children [vaccine-alone group]), or chemoprevention and RTS,S/AS01E (2286 children [combination group]). Of these, 1965, 1988, and 1967 children in the three groups, respectively, received the first dose of the assigned intervention and were followed for 3 years. Febrile seizure developed in 5 children the day after receipt of the vaccine, but the children recovered and had no sequelae. There were 305 events of uncomplicated clinical malaria per 1000 person-years at risk in the chemoprevention-alone group, 278 events per 1000 person-years in the vaccine-alone group, and 113 events per 1000 person-years in the combination group. The hazard ratio for the protective efficacy of RTS,S/AS01E as compared with chemoprevention was 0.92 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84 to 1.01), which excluded the prespecified noninferiority margin of 1.20. The protective efficacy of the combination as compared with chemoprevention alone was 62.8% (95% CI, 58.4 to 66.8) against clinical malaria, 70.5% (95% CI, 41.9 to 85.0) against hospital admission with severe malaria according to the World Health Organization definition, and 72.9% (95% CI, 2.9 to 92.4) against death from malaria. The protective efficacy of the combination as compared with the vaccine alone against these outcomes was 59.6% (95% CI, 54.7 to 64.0), 70.6% (95% CI, 42.3 to 85.0), and 75.3% (95% CI, 12.5 to 93.0), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of RTS,S/AS01E was noninferior to chemoprevention in preventing uncomplicated malaria. The combination of these interventions resulted in a substantially lower incidence of uncomplicated malaria, severe malaria, and death from malaria than either intervention alone. (Funded by the Joint Global Health Trials and PATH; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03143218.).}, note = {Copyright © 2021 Massachusetts Medical Society. Place: United States PMID: 34432975}, keywords = {Amodiaquine/therapeutic use, Antimalarials/adverse effects/therapeutic use, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Chemoprevention, Combination, Combined Modality Therapy, Double-Blind Method, Drug Combinations, Drug Therapy, Falciparum/epidemiology/mortality/prevention \& control, Febrile/etiology, Female, Hospitalization/statistics \& numerical data, Humans, Infant, Malaria, Malaria Vaccines/administration \& dosage/adverse effects, Male, Mali/epidemiology, Pyrimethamine/therapeutic use, Seasons, Seizures, Sulfadoxine/therapeutic use}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: Malaria control remains a challenge in many parts of the Sahel and sub-Sahel regions of Africa. METHODS: We conducted an individually randomized, controlled trial to assess whether seasonal vaccination with RTS,S/AS01E was noninferior to chemoprevention in preventing uncomplicated malaria and whether the two interventions combined were superior to either one alone in preventing uncomplicated malaria and severe malaria-related outcomes. RESULTS: We randomly assigned 6861 children 5 to 17 months of age to receive sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and amodiaquine (2287 children [chemoprevention-alone group]), RTS,S/AS01E (2288 children [vaccine-alone group]), or chemoprevention and RTS,S/AS01E (2286 children [combination group]). Of these, 1965, 1988, and 1967 children in the three groups, respectively, received the first dose of the assigned intervention and were followed for 3 years. Febrile seizure developed in 5 children the day after receipt of the vaccine, but the children recovered and had no sequelae. There were 305 events of uncomplicated clinical malaria per 1000 person-years at risk in the chemoprevention-alone group, 278 events per 1000 person-years in the vaccine-alone group, and 113 events per 1000 person-years in the combination group. The hazard ratio for the protective efficacy of RTS,S/AS01E as compared with chemoprevention was 0.92 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84 to 1.01), which excluded the prespecified noninferiority margin of 1.20. The protective efficacy of the combination as compared with chemoprevention alone was 62.8% (95% CI, 58.4 to 66.8) against clinical malaria, 70.5% (95% CI, 41.9 to 85.0) against hospital admission with severe malaria according to the World Health Organization definition, and 72.9% (95% CI, 2.9 to 92.4) against death from malaria. The protective efficacy of the combination as compared with the vaccine alone against these outcomes was 59.6% (95% CI, 54.7 to 64.0), 70.6% (95% CI, 42.3 to 85.0), and 75.3% (95% CI, 12.5 to 93.0), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of RTS,S/AS01E was noninferior to chemoprevention in preventing uncomplicated malaria. The combination of these interventions resulted in a substantially lower incidence of uncomplicated malaria, severe malaria, and death from malaria than either intervention alone. (Funded by the Joint Global Health Trials and PATH; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03143218.). Close doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2026330 Close
	Isidore Tiandiogo Traoré, Samiratou Ouedraogo, Dramane Kania, Firmin Nongodo Kaboré, Blahima Konaté, Rachel Médah, Hermann Badolo, Nathalie Rekeneire, Ariane Mamguem Kamga, Armel Poda, Arnaud Eric Diendere, Boukary Ouédraogo, Esperance Ouédraogo, Oumar Billa, Halidou Tinto, Tienhan Sandrine Dabakuyo-Yonli COVID-19 epidemiological, sociological and anthropological investigation: study protocol for a multidisciplinary mixed methods research in Burkina Faso (Journal Article) In: BMC Infect. Dis., vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 896, 2021, ISSN: 1471-2334, (© 2021. The Author(s). PMID: 34479501 PMCID: PMC8414025). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Clinical epidemiology, COVID-19, Humans, Predictive score, Prospective Studies, Retrospective Studies, SARS-Cov-2, Sero-epidemiology, Socio-anthropology) Close @article{Traore2021-vr, title = {COVID-19 epidemiological, sociological and anthropological investigation: study protocol for a multidisciplinary mixed methods research in Burkina Faso}, author = {Isidore Tiandiogo Traor\'{e} and Samiratou Ouedraogo and Dramane Kania and Firmin Nongodo Kabor\'{e} and Blahima Konat\'{e} and Rachel M\'{e}dah and Hermann Badolo and Nathalie Rekeneire and Ariane Mamguem Kamga and Armel Poda and Arnaud Eric Diendere and Boukary Ou\'{e}draogo and Esperance Ou\'{e}draogo and Oumar Billa and Halidou Tinto and Tienhan Sandrine Dabakuyo-Yonli}, doi = {10.1186/s12879-021-06543-4}, issn = {1471-2334}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-09-03}, urldate = {2021-09-03}, journal = {BMC Infect. Dis.}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {896}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The world has high hopes of vaccination against COVID-19 to protect the population, boost economies and return to normal life. Vaccination programmes are being rolled out in high income countries, but the pandemic continues to progress in many low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) despite implementation of strict hygiene measures. We aim to present a comprehensive research protocol that will generate epidemiological, sociological and anthropological data about the COVID-19 epidemic in Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in West Africa with scarce resources. METHODS: We will perform a multidisciplinary research using mixed methods in the two main cities in Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso). Data will be collected in the general population and in COVID-19 patients, caregivers and health care professionals in reference care centers: (i) to determine cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the Burkinabe population using blood samples collected from randomly selected households according to the WHO-recommended protocol; (ii) develop a score to predict severe complications of COVID-19 in persons infected with SARS-CoV-2 using retrospective and prospective data; (iii) perform semi-structured interviews and direct observation on site, to describe and analyze the healthcare pathways and experiences of patients with COVID-19 attending reference care centers, and to identify the perceptions, acceptability and application of preventive strategies among the population. DISCUSSION: This study will generate comprehensive data that will contribute to improving COVID-19 response strategies in Burkina Faso. The lessons learned from the management of this epidemic may serve as examples to the country authorities to better design preventive strategies in the case of future epidemics or pandemics. The protocol was approved by the Ministry for Health (N° 2020-00952/MS/CAB/INSP/CM) and the Health Research Ethics Committee in Burkina Faso (N° 2020-8-140).}, note = {© 2021. The Author(s). PMID: 34479501 PMCID: PMC8414025}, keywords = {Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Clinical epidemiology, COVID-19, Humans, Predictive score, Prospective Studies, Retrospective Studies, SARS-Cov-2, Sero-epidemiology, Socio-anthropology}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: The world has high hopes of vaccination against COVID-19 to protect the population, boost economies and return to normal life. Vaccination programmes are being rolled out in high income countries, but the pandemic continues to progress in many low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) despite implementation of strict hygiene measures. We aim to present a comprehensive research protocol that will generate epidemiological, sociological and anthropological data about the COVID-19 epidemic in Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in West Africa with scarce resources. METHODS: We will perform a multidisciplinary research using mixed methods in the two main cities in Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso). Data will be collected in the general population and in COVID-19 patients, caregivers and health care professionals in reference care centers: (i) to determine cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the Burkinabe population using blood samples collected from randomly selected households according to the WHO-recommended protocol; (ii) develop a score to predict severe complications of COVID-19 in persons infected with SARS-CoV-2 using retrospective and prospective data; (iii) perform semi-structured interviews and direct observation on site, to describe and analyze the healthcare pathways and experiences of patients with COVID-19 attending reference care centers, and to identify the perceptions, acceptability and application of preventive strategies among the population. DISCUSSION: This study will generate comprehensive data that will contribute to improving COVID-19 response strategies in Burkina Faso. The lessons learned from the management of this epidemic may serve as examples to the country authorities to better design preventive strategies in the case of future epidemics or pandemics. The protocol was approved by the Ministry for Health (N° 2020-00952/MS/CAB/INSP/CM) and the Health Research Ethics Committee in Burkina Faso (N° 2020-8-140). Close doi:10.1186/s12879-021-06543-4 Close
	Stephen A Roberts, Loretta Brabin, Halidou Tinto, Sabine Gies, Salou Diallo, Bernard Brabin Seasonal patterns of malaria, genital infection, nutritional and iron status in non-pregnant and pregnant adolescents in Burkina Faso: a secondary analysis of trial data (Journal Article) In: BMC Public Health, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 1764, 2021, ISSN: 1471-2458, (© 2021. The Author(s). PMID: 34579679 PMCID: PMC8477466). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Abnormal vaginal flora, Adolescents, Bacterial vaginosis, Body Mass Index, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Child, Female, Humans, Iron, iron biomarkers, Malaria, Malaria/drug therapy/epidemiology, MUAC, Pregnancy, Seasons, Vagina) Close @article{Roberts2021-gg, title = {Seasonal patterns of malaria, genital infection, nutritional and iron status in non-pregnant and pregnant adolescents in Burkina Faso: a secondary analysis of trial data}, author = {Stephen A Roberts and Loretta Brabin and Halidou Tinto and Sabine Gies and Salou Diallo and Bernard Brabin}, doi = {10.1186/s12889-021-11819-0}, issn = {1471-2458}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-09-01}, urldate = {2021-09-01}, journal = {BMC Public Health}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {1764}, publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Adolescents are considered at high risk of developing iron deficiency. Studies in children indicate that the prevalence of iron deficiency increased with malaria transmission, suggesting malaria seasonally may drive iron deficiency. This paper examines monthly seasonal infection patterns of malaria, abnormal vaginal flora, chorioamnionitis, antibiotic and antimalarial prescriptions, in relation to changes in iron biomarkers and nutritional indices in adolescents living in a rural area of Burkina Faso, in order to assess the requirement for seasonal infection control and nutrition interventions. METHODS: Data collected between April 2011 and January 2014 were available for an observational seasonal analysis, comprising scheduled visits for 1949 non-pregnant adolescents (≤19 years), (315 of whom subsequently became pregnant), enrolled in a randomised trial of periconceptional iron supplementation. Data from trial arms were combined. Body Iron Stores (BIS) were calculated using an internal regression for ferritin to allow for inflammation. At recruitment 11% had low BIS (< 0 mg/kg). Continuous outcomes were fitted to a mixed-effects linear model with month, age and pregnancy status as fixed effect covariates and woman as a random effect. Dichotomous infection outcomes were fitted with analogous logistic regression models. RESULTS: Seasonal variation in malaria parasitaemia prevalence ranged between 18 and 70% in non-pregnant adolescents (P < 0.001), peaking at 81% in those who became pregnant. Seasonal variation occurred in antibiotic prescription rates (0.7-1.8 prescriptions/100 weekly visits, P < 0.001) and chorioamnionitis prevalence (range 15-68%, P = 0.026). Mucosal vaginal lactoferrin concentration was lower at the end of the wet season (range 2-22 μg/ml, P < 0.016), when chorioamnionitis was least frequent. BIS fluctuated annually by up to 53.2% per year around the mean BIS (5.1 mg/kg(2), range 4.1-6.8 mg/kg), with low BIS (< 0 mg/kg) of 8.7% in the dry and 9.8% in the wet seasons (P = 0.36). Median serum transferrin receptor increased during the wet season (P < 0.001). Higher hepcidin concentration in the wet season corresponded with rising malaria prevalence and use of prescriptions, but with no change in BIS. Mean Body Mass Index and Mid-Upper-Arm-Circumference values peaked mid-dry season (both P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis supports preventive treatment of malaria among adolescents 15-19 years to decrease their disease burden, especially asymptomatic malaria. As BIS were adequate in most adolescents despite seasonal malaria, a requirement for programmatic iron supplementation was not substantiated.}, note = {© 2021. The Author(s). PMID: 34579679 PMCID: PMC8477466}, keywords = {Abnormal vaginal flora, Adolescents, Bacterial vaginosis, Body Mass Index, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Child, Female, Humans, Iron, iron biomarkers, Malaria, Malaria/drug therapy/epidemiology, MUAC, Pregnancy, Seasons, Vagina}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: Adolescents are considered at high risk of developing iron deficiency. Studies in children indicate that the prevalence of iron deficiency increased with malaria transmission, suggesting malaria seasonally may drive iron deficiency. This paper examines monthly seasonal infection patterns of malaria, abnormal vaginal flora, chorioamnionitis, antibiotic and antimalarial prescriptions, in relation to changes in iron biomarkers and nutritional indices in adolescents living in a rural area of Burkina Faso, in order to assess the requirement for seasonal infection control and nutrition interventions. METHODS: Data collected between April 2011 and January 2014 were available for an observational seasonal analysis, comprising scheduled visits for 1949 non-pregnant adolescents (≤19 years), (315 of whom subsequently became pregnant), enrolled in a randomised trial of periconceptional iron supplementation. Data from trial arms were combined. Body Iron Stores (BIS) were calculated using an internal regression for ferritin to allow for inflammation. At recruitment 11% had low BIS (< 0 mg/kg). Continuous outcomes were fitted to a mixed-effects linear model with month, age and pregnancy status as fixed effect covariates and woman as a random effect. Dichotomous infection outcomes were fitted with analogous logistic regression models. RESULTS: Seasonal variation in malaria parasitaemia prevalence ranged between 18 and 70% in non-pregnant adolescents (P < 0.001), peaking at 81% in those who became pregnant. Seasonal variation occurred in antibiotic prescription rates (0.7-1.8 prescriptions/100 weekly visits, P < 0.001) and chorioamnionitis prevalence (range 15-68%, P = 0.026). Mucosal vaginal lactoferrin concentration was lower at the end of the wet season (range 2-22 μg/ml, P < 0.016), when chorioamnionitis was least frequent. BIS fluctuated annually by up to 53.2% per year around the mean BIS (5.1 mg/kg(2), range 4.1-6.8 mg/kg), with low BIS (< 0 mg/kg) of 8.7% in the dry and 9.8% in the wet seasons (P = 0.36). Median serum transferrin receptor increased during the wet season (P < 0.001). Higher hepcidin concentration in the wet season corresponded with rising malaria prevalence and use of prescriptions, but with no change in BIS. Mean Body Mass Index and Mid-Upper-Arm-Circumference values peaked mid-dry season (both P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis supports preventive treatment of malaria among adolescents 15-19 years to decrease their disease burden, especially asymptomatic malaria. As BIS were adequate in most adolescents despite seasonal malaria, a requirement for programmatic iron supplementation was not substantiated. Close doi:10.1186/s12889-021-11819-0 Close
	Adéla"ide Compaoré, Kadija Ouedraogo, Palwende R Boua, Daniella Watson, Sarah H Kehoe, Marie-Louise Newell, Halidou Tinto, Mary Barker, Hermann Sorgho, INPreP group ‘Men are not playing their roles’, maternal and child nutrition in Nanoro, Burkina Faso (Journal Article) In: Public Health Nutr., vol. 24, no. 12, pp. 3780–3790, 2021, ISSN: 1475-2727 1368-9800, (Place: England PMID: 33000717). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Burkina Faso, Child, Child nutrition, Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, Community perceptions, Empowerment, Female, Humans, Male, Maternal nutrition, Mothers, Nutritional Status, Pregnancy, Qualitative research) Close @article{Compaore2021-hg, title = {'Men are not playing their roles', maternal and child nutrition in Nanoro, Burkina Faso}, author = {Ad\'{e}la"ide Compaor\'{e} and Kadija Ouedraogo and Palwende R Boua and Daniella Watson and Sarah H Kehoe and Marie-Louise Newell and Halidou Tinto and Mary Barker and Hermann Sorgho and INPreP group}, doi = {10.1017/S1368980020003365}, issn = {1475-2727 1368-9800}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-08-01}, urldate = {2021-08-01}, journal = {Public Health Nutr.}, volume = {24}, number = {12}, pages = {3780--3790}, publisher = {Cambridge University Press (CUP)}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To collect context-specific insights into maternal and child health and nutrition issues, and to explore potential solutions in Nanoro, Burkina Faso. DESIGN: Eleven focus groups with men and women from eleven communities, facilitated by local researchers. SETTING: The study took place in the Nanoro Health district, in the West-Central part of Burkina Faso. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-six men (18-55 years) and women by age group: 18-25; 26-34 and 35-55 years, participated in the group discussions. RESULTS: Participants described barriers to optimal nutrition of mothers and children related to a range of community factors, with gender inequality as central. Major themes in the discussions are related to poverty and challenges generated by socially and culturally determined gender roles. Sub-themes are women lacking access to food whilst pregnant and having limited access to health care and opportunities to generate income. Although communities believe that food donations should be implemented to overcome this, they also pointed out the need for enhancing their own food production, requiring improved agricultural technologies. Given the important role that women could play in reducing malnutrition, these communities felt they needed to be empowered to do so and supported by men. They also felt that this had to be carried out in the context of an enhanced health care system. CONCLUSIONS: Findings reported here highlight the importance of nutrition-sensitive interventions and women's empowerment in improving maternal and child nutrition. There is a need to integrate a sustainable multi-sectorial approach which goes beyond food support.}, note = {Place: England PMID: 33000717}, keywords = {Burkina Faso, Child, Child nutrition, Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, Community perceptions, Empowerment, Female, Humans, Male, Maternal nutrition, Mothers, Nutritional Status, Pregnancy, Qualitative research}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close OBJECTIVE: To collect context-specific insights into maternal and child health and nutrition issues, and to explore potential solutions in Nanoro, Burkina Faso. DESIGN: Eleven focus groups with men and women from eleven communities, facilitated by local researchers. SETTING: The study took place in the Nanoro Health district, in the West-Central part of Burkina Faso. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-six men (18-55 years) and women by age group: 18-25; 26-34 and 35-55 years, participated in the group discussions. RESULTS: Participants described barriers to optimal nutrition of mothers and children related to a range of community factors, with gender inequality as central. Major themes in the discussions are related to poverty and challenges generated by socially and culturally determined gender roles. Sub-themes are women lacking access to food whilst pregnant and having limited access to health care and opportunities to generate income. Although communities believe that food donations should be implemented to overcome this, they also pointed out the need for enhancing their own food production, requiring improved agricultural technologies. Given the important role that women could play in reducing malnutrition, these communities felt they needed to be empowered to do so and supported by men. They also felt that this had to be carried out in the context of an enhanced health care system. CONCLUSIONS: Findings reported here highlight the importance of nutrition-sensitive interventions and women’s empowerment in improving maternal and child nutrition. There is a need to integrate a sustainable multi-sectorial approach which goes beyond food support. Close doi:10.1017/S1368980020003365 Close
	Koudraogo Bienvenue Yaméogo, Rakiswendé Serge Yerbanga, Seydou Bienvenu Ouattara, Franck A Yao, Thierry Lef`evre, Issaka Zongo, Frederic Niki`ema, Yves Daniel Compaoré, Halidou Tinto, Daniel Chandramohan, Brian Greenwood, Adrien M G Belem, Anna Cohuet, Jean Bosco Ouédraogo Effect of seasonal malaria chemoprevention plus azithromycin on Plasmodium falciparum transmission: gametocyte infectivity and mosquito fitness (Journal Article) In: Malar. J., vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 326, 2021, ISSN: 1475-2875, (© 2021. The Author(s). PMID: 34315475 PMCID: PMC8314489). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Amodiaquine/administration & dosage, Animals, Antimalarials/administration & dosage, Chemoprevention, Child, Culicidae/physiology, Drug Combinations, Falciparum/prevention & control/transmission, Gametocytes, Genetic Fitness, Humans, Malaria, Plasmodium falciparum/physiology, Preschool, Pyrimethamine/administration & dosage, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, Seasons, Sulfadoxine/administration & dosage, Transmission) Close @article{Yameogo2021-bb, title = {Effect of seasonal malaria chemoprevention plus azithromycin on Plasmodium falciparum transmission: gametocyte infectivity and mosquito fitness}, author = {Koudraogo Bienvenue Yam\'{e}ogo and Rakiswend\'{e} Serge Yerbanga and Seydou Bienvenu Ouattara and Franck A Yao and Thierry Lef`evre and Issaka Zongo and Frederic Niki`ema and Yves Daniel Compaor\'{e} and Halidou Tinto and Daniel Chandramohan and Brian Greenwood and Adrien M G Belem and Anna Cohuet and Jean Bosco Ou\'{e}draogo}, doi = {10.1186/s12936-021-03855-3}, issn = {1475-2875}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-07-27}, urldate = {2021-07-27}, journal = {Malar. J.}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {326}, publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) consists of administration of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) + amodiaquine (AQ) at monthly intervals to children during the malaria transmission period. Whether the addition of azithromycin (AZ) to SMC could potentiate the benefit of the intervention was tested through a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. The effect of SMC and the addition of AZ, on malaria transmission and on the life history traits of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes have been investigated. METHODS: The study included 438 children randomly selected from among participants in the SMC + AZ trial and 198 children from the same area who did not receive chemoprevention. For each participant in the SMC + AZ trial, blood was collected 14 to 21 days post treatment, examined for the presence of malaria sexual and asexual stages and provided as a blood meal to An. gambiae females using a direct membrane-feeding assay. RESULTS: The SMC treatment, with or without AZ, significantly reduced the prevalence of asexual Plasmodium falciparum (LRT X(2)(2) = 69, P < 0.0001) and the gametocyte prevalence (LRT X(2)(2) = 54, P < 0.0001). In addition, the proportion of infectious feeds (LRT X(2)(2) = 61, P < 0.0001) and the prevalence of oocysts among exposed mosquitoes (LRT X(2)(2) = 22.8, P < 0.001) was reduced when mosquitoes were fed on blood from treated children compared to untreated controls. The addition of AZ to SPAQ was associated with an increased proportion of infectious feeds (LRT X(2)(1) = 5.2, P = 0.02), suggesting a significant effect of AZ on gametocyte infectivity. There was a slight negative effect of SPAQ and SPAQ + AZ on mosquito survival compared to mosquitoes fed with blood from control children (LRTX(2)(2) = 330, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that SMC may contribute to a reduction in human to mosquito transmission of P. falciparum, and the reduced mosquito longevity observed for females fed on treated blood may increase the benefit of this intervention in control of malaria. The addition of AZ to SPAQ in SMC appeared to enhance the infectivity of gametocytes providing further evidence that this combination is not an appropriate intervention.}, note = {© 2021. The Author(s). PMID: 34315475 PMCID: PMC8314489}, keywords = {Amodiaquine/administration \& dosage, Animals, Antimalarials/administration \& dosage, Chemoprevention, Child, Culicidae/physiology, Drug Combinations, Falciparum/prevention \& control/transmission, Gametocytes, Genetic Fitness, Humans, Malaria, Plasmodium falciparum/physiology, Preschool, Pyrimethamine/administration \& dosage, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, Seasons, Sulfadoxine/administration \& dosage, Transmission}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) consists of administration of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) + amodiaquine (AQ) at monthly intervals to children during the malaria transmission period. Whether the addition of azithromycin (AZ) to SMC could potentiate the benefit of the intervention was tested through a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. The effect of SMC and the addition of AZ, on malaria transmission and on the life history traits of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes have been investigated. METHODS: The study included 438 children randomly selected from among participants in the SMC + AZ trial and 198 children from the same area who did not receive chemoprevention. For each participant in the SMC + AZ trial, blood was collected 14 to 21 days post treatment, examined for the presence of malaria sexual and asexual stages and provided as a blood meal to An. gambiae females using a direct membrane-feeding assay. RESULTS: The SMC treatment, with or without AZ, significantly reduced the prevalence of asexual Plasmodium falciparum (LRT X(2)(2) = 69, P < 0.0001) and the gametocyte prevalence (LRT X(2)(2) = 54, P < 0.0001). In addition, the proportion of infectious feeds (LRT X(2)(2) = 61, P < 0.0001) and the prevalence of oocysts among exposed mosquitoes (LRT X(2)(2) = 22.8, P < 0.001) was reduced when mosquitoes were fed on blood from treated children compared to untreated controls. The addition of AZ to SPAQ was associated with an increased proportion of infectious feeds (LRT X(2)(1) = 5.2, P = 0.02), suggesting a significant effect of AZ on gametocyte infectivity. There was a slight negative effect of SPAQ and SPAQ + AZ on mosquito survival compared to mosquitoes fed with blood from control children (LRTX(2)(2) = 330, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that SMC may contribute to a reduction in human to mosquito transmission of P. falciparum, and the reduced mosquito longevity observed for females fed on treated blood may increase the benefit of this intervention in control of malaria. The addition of AZ to SPAQ in SMC appeared to enhance the infectivity of gametocytes providing further evidence that this combination is not an appropriate intervention. Close doi:10.1186/s12936-021-03855-3 Close
	Navideh Noori, Karim Derra, Innocent Valea, Assaf P Oron, Aminata Welgo, Toussaint Rouamba, Palwende Romuald Boua, Athanase M Somé, Eli Rouamba, Edward Wenger, Hermann Sorgho, Halidou Tinto, Andre Lin Ouédraogo Patterns of child mortality in rural area of Burkina Faso: evidence from the Nanoro health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) (Journal Article) In: BMC Public Health, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 1425, 2021, ISSN: 1471-2458, (© 2021. The Author(s). PMID: 34281547 PMCID: PMC8287796). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, child mortality, ChildHealth Facilities, Children under 5, Demographic surveillance, HDSS, Humans, Infant, Malaria, Nanoro, Spatial analysis, Travel) Close @article{Noori2021-te, title = {Patterns of child mortality in rural area of Burkina Faso: evidence from the Nanoro health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS)}, author = {Navideh Noori and Karim Derra and Innocent Valea and Assaf P Oron and Aminata Welgo and Toussaint Rouamba and Palwende Romuald Boua and Athanase M Som\'{e} and Eli Rouamba and Edward Wenger and Hermann Sorgho and Halidou Tinto and Andre Lin Ou\'{e}draogo}, doi = {10.1186/s12889-021-11483-4}, issn = {1471-2458}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-07-19}, urldate = {2021-07-19}, journal = {BMC Public Health}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {1425}, publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Half of global child deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding child mortality patterns and risk factors will help inform interventions to reduce this heavy toll. The Nanoro Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS), Burkina Faso was described previously, but patterns and potential drivers of heterogeneity in child mortality in the district had not been studied. Similar studies in other districts indicated proximity to health facilities as a risk factor, usually without distinction between facility types. METHODS: Using Nanoro HDSS data from 2009 to 2013, we estimated the association between under-5 mortality and proximity to inpatient and outpatient health facilities, seasonality of death, age group, and standard demographic risk factors. RESULTS: Living in homes 40-60 min and > 60 min travel time from an inpatient facility was associated with 1.52 (95% CI: 1.13-2.06) and 1.74 (95% CI: 1.27-2.40) greater hazard of under-5 mortality, respectively, than living in homes < 20 min from an inpatient facility. No such association was found for outpatient facilities. The wet season (July-November) was associated with 1.28 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.53) higher under-5 mortality than the dry season (December-June), likely reflecting the malaria season. CONCLUSIONS: Our results emphasize the importance of geographical proximity to health care, distinguish between inpatient and outpatient facilities, and also show a seasonal effect, probably driven by malaria.}, note = {© 2021. The Author(s). PMID: 34281547 PMCID: PMC8287796}, keywords = {Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, child mortality, ChildHealth Facilities, Children under 5, Demographic surveillance, HDSS, Humans, Infant, Malaria, Nanoro, Spatial analysis, Travel}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: Half of global child deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding child mortality patterns and risk factors will help inform interventions to reduce this heavy toll. The Nanoro Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS), Burkina Faso was described previously, but patterns and potential drivers of heterogeneity in child mortality in the district had not been studied. Similar studies in other districts indicated proximity to health facilities as a risk factor, usually without distinction between facility types. METHODS: Using Nanoro HDSS data from 2009 to 2013, we estimated the association between under-5 mortality and proximity to inpatient and outpatient health facilities, seasonality of death, age group, and standard demographic risk factors. RESULTS: Living in homes 40-60 min and > 60 min travel time from an inpatient facility was associated with 1.52 (95% CI: 1.13-2.06) and 1.74 (95% CI: 1.27-2.40) greater hazard of under-5 mortality, respectively, than living in homes < 20 min from an inpatient facility. No such association was found for outpatient facilities. The wet season (July-November) was associated with 1.28 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.53) higher under-5 mortality than the dry season (December-June), likely reflecting the malaria season. CONCLUSIONS: Our results emphasize the importance of geographical proximity to health care, distinguish between inpatient and outpatient facilities, and also show a seasonal effect, probably driven by malaria. Close doi:10.1186/s12889-021-11483-4 Close
	Marie Jaspard, Mamadou Saliou Sow, Sylvain Juchet, Eric Dienderé, Beatrice Serra, Richard Kojan, Billy Sivahera, Caroline Martin, Moumouni Kinda, Hans-Joerg Lang, Fodé Bangaly Sako, Fodé Amara Traoré, Eudoxie Koumbem, Halidou Tinto, Adama Sanou, Apoline Sondo, Flavien Kaboré, Joseph Donamou, Jean-Paul-Yassa Guilavogui, Fanny Velardo, Brice Bicaba, Olivier Marcy, Augustin Augier, Sani Sayadi, Armel Poda, Sakoba Keita, Xavier Anglaret, Denis Malvy, COVISTA group Clinical presentation, outcomes and factors associated with mortality: A prospective study from three COVID-19 referral care centres in West Africa (Journal Article) In: Int. J. Infect. Dis., vol. 108, pp. 45–52, 2021, ISSN: 1878-3511 1201-9712, (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved. PMID: 34000419 PMCID: PMC8120805). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Adult, Aged, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Comorbidities, COVID-19, Female, Hospitalization, Humans, Male, Mortality, Prospective Studies, Referral and Consultation, SARS-Cov-2, sub-Saharan Africa) Close @article{Jaspard2021-bl, title = {Clinical presentation, outcomes and factors associated with mortality: A prospective study from three COVID-19 referral care centres in West Africa}, author = {Marie Jaspard and Mamadou Saliou Sow and Sylvain Juchet and Eric Diender\'{e} and Beatrice Serra and Richard Kojan and Billy Sivahera and Caroline Martin and Moumouni Kinda and Hans-Joerg Lang and Fod\'{e} Bangaly Sako and Fod\'{e} Amara Traor\'{e} and Eudoxie Koumbem and Halidou Tinto and Adama Sanou and Apoline Sondo and Flavien Kabor\'{e} and Joseph Donamou and Jean-Paul-Yassa Guilavogui and Fanny Velardo and Brice Bicaba and Olivier Marcy and Augustin Augier and Sani Sayadi and Armel Poda and Sakoba Keita and Xavier Anglaret and Denis Malvy and COVISTA group}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijid.2021.05.024}, issn = {1878-3511 1201-9712}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-07-01}, urldate = {2021-07-01}, journal = {Int. J. Infect. Dis.}, volume = {108}, pages = {45--52}, publisher = {Elsevier BV}, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: The overall death toll from COVID-19 in Africa is reported to be low but there is little individual-level evidence on the severity of the disease. This study examined the clinical spectrum and outcome of patients monitored in COVID-19 care centres (CCCs) in two West-African countries. METHODS: Burkina Faso and Guinea set up referral CCCs to hospitalise all symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 carriers, regardless of the severity of their symptoms. Data collected from hospitalised patients by November 2020 are presented. RESULT: A total of 1,805 patients (64% men, median age 41 years) were admitted with COVID-19. Symptoms lasted for a median of 7 days (IQR 4-11). During hospitalisation, 443 (25%) had a SpO2 < 94% at least once, 237 (13%) received oxygen and 266 (15%) took corticosteroids. Mortality was 5% overall, and 1%, 5% and 14% in patients aged <40, 40-59 and $geq$60 years, respectively. In multivariable analysis, the risk of death was higher in men (aOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1; 3.6), people aged $geq$60 years (aOR 2.9, 95% CI 1.7; 4.8) and those with chronic hypertension (aOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2; 3.4). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 is as severe in Africa as elsewhere, and there must be more vigilance for common risk factors such as older age and hypertension.}, note = {Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved. PMID: 34000419 PMCID: PMC8120805}, keywords = {Adult, Aged, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Comorbidities, COVID-19, Female, Hospitalization, Humans, Male, Mortality, Prospective Studies, Referral and Consultation, SARS-Cov-2, sub-Saharan Africa}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close OBJECTIVES: The overall death toll from COVID-19 in Africa is reported to be low but there is little individual-level evidence on the severity of the disease. This study examined the clinical spectrum and outcome of patients monitored in COVID-19 care centres (CCCs) in two West-African countries. METHODS: Burkina Faso and Guinea set up referral CCCs to hospitalise all symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 carriers, regardless of the severity of their symptoms. Data collected from hospitalised patients by November 2020 are presented. RESULT: A total of 1,805 patients (64% men, median age 41 years) were admitted with COVID-19. Symptoms lasted for a median of 7 days (IQR 4-11). During hospitalisation, 443 (25%) had a SpO2 < 94% at least once, 237 (13%) received oxygen and 266 (15%) took corticosteroids. Mortality was 5% overall, and 1%, 5% and 14% in patients aged <40, 40-59 and $geq$60 years, respectively. In multivariable analysis, the risk of death was higher in men (aOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1; 3.6), people aged $geq$60 years (aOR 2.9, 95% CI 1.7; 4.8) and those with chronic hypertension (aOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2; 3.4). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 is as severe in Africa as elsewhere, and there must be more vigilance for common risk factors such as older age and hypertension. Close doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2021.05.024 Close
	Mariken Wit, Matthew Cairns, Yves Daniel Compaoré, Issaka Sagara, Irene Kuepfer, Issaka Zongo, Amadou Barry, Modibo Diarra, Amadou Tapily, Samba Coumare, Ismaila Thera, Frederic Nikiema, R Serge Yerbanga, Rosemonde M Guissou, Halidou Tinto, Alassane Dicko, Daniel Chandramohan, Brian Greenwood, Jean Bosco Ouedraogo Nutritional status in young children prior to the malaria transmission season in Burkina Faso and Mali, and its impact on the incidence of clinical malaria (Journal Article) In: Malar. J., vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 274, 2021, ISSN: 1475-2875, (PMID: 34158054 PMCID: PMC8220741). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Acute malnutrition, Antimalarials/administration & dosage, Azithromycin/administration & dosage, Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Child, Chronic malnutrition, Female, Humans, Incidence, Infant, Malaria, Malaria/epidemiology/transmission, Male, Nutritional Status, Preschool, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, Seasons) Close @article{De_Wit2021-yi, title = {Nutritional status in young children prior to the malaria transmission season in Burkina Faso and Mali, and its impact on the incidence of clinical malaria}, author = {Mariken Wit and Matthew Cairns and Yves Daniel Compaor\'{e} and Issaka Sagara and Irene Kuepfer and Issaka Zongo and Amadou Barry and Modibo Diarra and Amadou Tapily and Samba Coumare and Ismaila Thera and Frederic Nikiema and R Serge Yerbanga and Rosemonde M Guissou and Halidou Tinto and Alassane Dicko and Daniel Chandramohan and Brian Greenwood and Jean Bosco Ouedraogo}, doi = {10.1186/s12936-021-03802-2}, issn = {1475-2875}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-06-22}, urldate = {2021-06-22}, journal = {Malar. J.}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {274}, publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Malaria and malnutrition remain major problems in Sahel countries, especially in young children. The direct effect of malnutrition on malaria remains poorly understood, and may have important implications for malaria control. In this study, nutritional status and the association between malnutrition and subsequent incidence of symptomatic malaria were examined in children in Burkina Faso and Mali who received either azithromycin or placebo, alongside seasonal malaria chemoprevention. METHODS: Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) was measured in all 20,185 children who attended a screening visit prior to the malaria transmission season in 2015. Prior to the 2016 malaria season, weight, height and MUAC were measured among 4149 randomly selected children. Height-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-height, and MUAC-for-age were calculated as indicators of nutritional status. Malaria incidence was measured during the following rainy seasons. Multivariable random effects Poisson models were created for each nutritional indicator to study the effect of malnutrition on clinical malaria incidence for each country. RESULTS: In both 2015 and 2016, nutritional status prior to the malaria season was poor. The most prevalent form of malnutrition in Burkina Faso was being underweight (30.5%; 95% CI 28.6-32.6), whereas in Mali stunting was most prevalent (27.5%; 95% CI 25.6-29.5). In 2016, clinical malaria incidence was 675 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 613-744) in Burkina Faso, and 1245 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 1152-1347) in Mali. There was some evidence that severe stunting was associated with lower incidence of malaria in Mali (RR 0.81; 95% CI 0.64-1.02; p = 0.08), but this association was not seen in Burkina Faso. Being moderately underweight tended to be associated with higher incidence of clinical malaria in Burkina Faso (RR 1.27; 95% CI 0.98-1.64; p = 0.07), while this was the case in Mali for moderate wasting (RR 1.27; 95% CI 0.98-1.64; p = 0.07). However, these associations were not observed in severely affected children, nor consistent between countries. MUAC-for-age was not associated with malaria risk. CONCLUSIONS: Both malnutrition and malaria were common in the study areas, high despite high coverage of seasonal malaria chemoprevention and long-lasting insecticidal nets. However, no strong or consistent evidence was found for an association between any of the nutritional indicators and the subsequent incidence of clinical malaria.}, note = {PMID: 34158054 PMCID: PMC8220741}, keywords = {Acute malnutrition, Antimalarials/administration \& dosage, Azithromycin/administration \& dosage, Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Child, Chronic malnutrition, Female, Humans, Incidence, Infant, Malaria, Malaria/epidemiology/transmission, Male, Nutritional Status, Preschool, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, Seasons}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: Malaria and malnutrition remain major problems in Sahel countries, especially in young children. The direct effect of malnutrition on malaria remains poorly understood, and may have important implications for malaria control. In this study, nutritional status and the association between malnutrition and subsequent incidence of symptomatic malaria were examined in children in Burkina Faso and Mali who received either azithromycin or placebo, alongside seasonal malaria chemoprevention. METHODS: Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) was measured in all 20,185 children who attended a screening visit prior to the malaria transmission season in 2015. Prior to the 2016 malaria season, weight, height and MUAC were measured among 4149 randomly selected children. Height-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-height, and MUAC-for-age were calculated as indicators of nutritional status. Malaria incidence was measured during the following rainy seasons. Multivariable random effects Poisson models were created for each nutritional indicator to study the effect of malnutrition on clinical malaria incidence for each country. RESULTS: In both 2015 and 2016, nutritional status prior to the malaria season was poor. The most prevalent form of malnutrition in Burkina Faso was being underweight (30.5%; 95% CI 28.6-32.6), whereas in Mali stunting was most prevalent (27.5%; 95% CI 25.6-29.5). In 2016, clinical malaria incidence was 675 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 613-744) in Burkina Faso, and 1245 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 1152-1347) in Mali. There was some evidence that severe stunting was associated with lower incidence of malaria in Mali (RR 0.81; 95% CI 0.64-1.02; p = 0.08), but this association was not seen in Burkina Faso. Being moderately underweight tended to be associated with higher incidence of clinical malaria in Burkina Faso (RR 1.27; 95% CI 0.98-1.64; p = 0.07), while this was the case in Mali for moderate wasting (RR 1.27; 95% CI 0.98-1.64; p = 0.07). However, these associations were not observed in severely affected children, nor consistent between countries. MUAC-for-age was not associated with malaria risk. CONCLUSIONS: Both malnutrition and malaria were common in the study areas, high despite high coverage of seasonal malaria chemoprevention and long-lasting insecticidal nets. However, no strong or consistent evidence was found for an association between any of the nutritional indicators and the subsequent incidence of clinical malaria. Close doi:10.1186/s12936-021-03802-2 Close
	Paul Sondo, Biebo Bihoun, Bérenger Kabore, Marc Christian Tahita, Karim Derra, Toussaint Rouamba, Seydou Nakanabo Diallo, Adama Kazienga, Hamidou Ilboudo, Innocent Valea, Zekiba Tarnagda, Hermann Sorgho, Thierry Lefevre, Halidou Tinto Polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum parasites and mutations in the resistance genes Pfcrt and Pfmdr1 in Nanoro area, Burkina Faso. (Journal Article) In: Pan Afr. Med. J., vol. 39, pp. 118, 2021, ISSN: 1937-8688, (Copyright: Paul Sondo et al. PMID: 34512854 PMCID: PMC8396377). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Antimalarials/pharmacology, Burkina Faso, Drug Resistance, Falciparum/drug therapy/parasitology, GeneticRestriction Fragment Length, Genotype, Humans, Malaria, Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics, msp1, msp2, Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins/genetics, Mutation, Pfcrt, Pfmdr1, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium falciparum/drug effects/genetics/isolation & purification, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Polymorphism, Protozoan Proteins/genetics) Close @article{Sondo2021-qe, title = {Polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum parasites and mutations in the resistance genes Pfcrt and Pfmdr1 in Nanoro area, Burkina Faso.}, author = {Paul Sondo and Biebo Bihoun and B\'{e}renger Kabore and Marc Christian Tahita and Karim Derra and Toussaint Rouamba and Seydou Nakanabo Diallo and Adama Kazienga and Hamidou Ilboudo and Innocent Valea and Zekiba Tarnagda and Hermann Sorgho and Thierry Lefevre and Halidou Tinto}, doi = {10.11604/pamj.2021.39.118.26959}, issn = {1937-8688}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-06-10}, urldate = {2021-06-10}, journal = {Pan Afr. Med. J.}, volume = {39}, pages = {118}, publisher = {Pan African Medical Journal}, abstract = {Introduction: from a genetic point of view P. falciparumis extremely polymorphic. There is a variety of parasite strains infesting individuals living in malaria endemic areas. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum parasites and Pfcrt and Pfmdr1 gene mutations in Nanoro area, Burkina Faso. Methods: blood samples from plasmodium carriers residing in the Nanoro Health District were genotyped using nested PCR. Parasite gene mutations associated with resistance to antimalarial drugs were detected by PCR-RFLP. Results: samples of 672 patients were successfully genotyped. No msp1and msp2allelic families exhibited an increase in developing mutations in resistance genes. However, mutant strains of these genes were present at greater levels in monoclonal infections than in multi-clonal infections. Conclusion: this study provides an overview of the relationship between polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum parasites and mutations in resistance genes. These data will undoubtedly contribute to improving knowledge of the parasite´s biology and its mechanisms of resistance to antimalarial drugs.}, note = {Copyright: Paul Sondo et al. PMID: 34512854 PMCID: PMC8396377}, keywords = {Antimalarials/pharmacology, Burkina Faso, Drug Resistance, Falciparum/drug therapy/parasitology, GeneticRestriction Fragment Length, Genotype, Humans, Malaria, Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics, msp1, msp2, Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins/genetics, Mutation, Pfcrt, Pfmdr1, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium falciparum/drug effects/genetics/isolation \& purification, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Polymorphism, Protozoan Proteins/genetics}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close Introduction: from a genetic point of view P. falciparumis extremely polymorphic. There is a variety of parasite strains infesting individuals living in malaria endemic areas. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum parasites and Pfcrt and Pfmdr1 gene mutations in Nanoro area, Burkina Faso. Methods: blood samples from plasmodium carriers residing in the Nanoro Health District were genotyped using nested PCR. Parasite gene mutations associated with resistance to antimalarial drugs were detected by PCR-RFLP. Results: samples of 672 patients were successfully genotyped. No msp1and msp2allelic families exhibited an increase in developing mutations in resistance genes. However, mutant strains of these genes were present at greater levels in monoclonal infections than in multi-clonal infections. Conclusion: this study provides an overview of the relationship between polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum parasites and mutations in resistance genes. These data will undoubtedly contribute to improving knowledge of the parasite´s biology and its mechanisms of resistance to antimalarial drugs. Close doi:10.11604/pamj.2021.39.118.26959 Close
	Annelies Post, Berenger Kaboré, Mike Berendsen, Salou Diallo, Ousmane Traore, Rob J W Arts, Mihai G Netea, Leo A B Joosten, Halidou Tinto, Jan Jacobs, Quirijn Mast, André Ven Altered ex-vivo cytokine responses in children with asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infection in Burkina Faso: An additional argument to treat asymptomatic malaria? (Journal Article) In: Front. Immunol., vol. 12, pp. 614817, 2021, ISSN: 1664-3224, (Copyright © 2021 Post, Kaboré, Berendsen, Diallo, Traore, Arts, Netea, Joosten, Tinto, Jacobs, de Mast and van der Ven. PMID: 34177883 PMCID: PMC8220162). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Asymptomatic Diseases, asymptomatic malaria, bacteraemia, Bacteremia, bloodstream infection, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Cells, Child, Cultured, Cytokines/metabolism, Endemic Diseases, Female, Humans, Infant, iNTS, Lipopolysaccharides/immunology, Malaria/epidemiology/immunology, Male, Parasite Load, Plasmodium falciparum/physiology, Preschool, Salmonella) Close @article{Post2021-oo, title = {Altered ex-vivo cytokine responses in children with asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infection in Burkina Faso: An additional argument to treat asymptomatic malaria?}, author = {Annelies Post and Berenger Kabor\'{e} and Mike Berendsen and Salou Diallo and Ousmane Traore and Rob J W Arts and Mihai G Netea and Leo A B Joosten and Halidou Tinto and Jan Jacobs and Quirijn Mast and Andr\'{e} Ven}, doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2021.614817}, issn = {1664-3224}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-06-09}, urldate = {2021-06-09}, journal = {Front. Immunol.}, volume = {12}, pages = {614817}, publisher = {Frontiers Media SA}, abstract = {Introduction: Patients with clinical malaria have an increased risk for bacterial bloodstream infections. We hypothesized that asymptomatic malaria parasitemia increases susceptibility for bacterial infections through an effect on the innate immune system. We measured circulating cytokine levels and ex-vivo cytokine production capacity in asymptomatic malaria and compared with controls. Methods: Data were collected from asymptomatic participants <5 years old with and without positive malaria microscopy, as well as from hospitalized patients <5 years old with clinical malaria, bacteremia, or malaria/bacteremia co-infections in a malaria endemic region of Burkina Faso. Circulating cytokines (TNF-$alpha$, IFN-$gamma$, IL-6, IL-10) were measured using multiplex assays. Whole blood from asymptomatic participants with and without positive malaria microscopy were ex-vivo stimulated with S. aureus, E. coli LPS and Salmonella Typhimurium; cytokine concentrations (TNF-$alpha$, IFN-$gamma$, IL-1$beta$, IL-6, IL-10) were measured on supernatants using ELISA. Results: Included were children with clinical malaria (n=118), bacteremia (n=22), malaria and bacteremia co-infection (n=9), asymptomatic malaria (n=125), and asymptomatic controls (n=237). Children with either clinical or asymptomatic malaria had higher plasma cytokine concentrations than controls. Cytokine concentrations correlated positively with malaria parasite density with the strongest correlation for IL-10 in both asymptomatic (r=0.63) and clinical malaria (r=0.53). Patients with bacteremia had lower circulating IL-10, TNF-$alpha$ and IFN-$gamma$ and higher IL-6 concentrations, compared to clinical malaria. Ex-vivo whole blood cytokine production to LPS and S. aureus was significantly lower in asymptomatic malaria compared to controls. Whole blood IFN-$gamma$ and IL-10 production in response to Salmonella was also lower in asymptomatic malaria. Interpretation: In children with asymptomatic malaria, cytokine responses upon ex-vivo bacterial stimulation are downregulated. Further studies are needed to explore if the suggested impaired innate immune response to bacterial pathogens also translates into impaired control of pathogens such as Salmonella spp.}, note = {Copyright © 2021 Post, Kabor\'{e}, Berendsen, Diallo, Traore, Arts, Netea, Joosten, Tinto, Jacobs, de Mast and van der Ven. PMID: 34177883 PMCID: PMC8220162}, keywords = {Asymptomatic Diseases, asymptomatic malaria, bacteraemia, Bacteremia, bloodstream infection, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Cells, Child, Cultured, Cytokines/metabolism, Endemic Diseases, Female, Humans, Infant, iNTS, Lipopolysaccharides/immunology, Malaria/epidemiology/immunology, Male, Parasite Load, Plasmodium falciparum/physiology, Preschool, Salmonella}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close Introduction: Patients with clinical malaria have an increased risk for bacterial bloodstream infections. We hypothesized that asymptomatic malaria parasitemia increases susceptibility for bacterial infections through an effect on the innate immune system. We measured circulating cytokine levels and ex-vivo cytokine production capacity in asymptomatic malaria and compared with controls. Methods: Data were collected from asymptomatic participants <5 years old with and without positive malaria microscopy, as well as from hospitalized patients <5 years old with clinical malaria, bacteremia, or malaria/bacteremia co-infections in a malaria endemic region of Burkina Faso. Circulating cytokines (TNF-$alpha$, IFN-$gamma$, IL-6, IL-10) were measured using multiplex assays. Whole blood from asymptomatic participants with and without positive malaria microscopy were ex-vivo stimulated with S. aureus, E. coli LPS and Salmonella Typhimurium; cytokine concentrations (TNF-$alpha$, IFN-$gamma$, IL-1$beta$, IL-6, IL-10) were measured on supernatants using ELISA. Results: Included were children with clinical malaria (n=118), bacteremia (n=22), malaria and bacteremia co-infection (n=9), asymptomatic malaria (n=125), and asymptomatic controls (n=237). Children with either clinical or asymptomatic malaria had higher plasma cytokine concentrations than controls. Cytokine concentrations correlated positively with malaria parasite density with the strongest correlation for IL-10 in both asymptomatic (r=0.63) and clinical malaria (r=0.53). Patients with bacteremia had lower circulating IL-10, TNF-$alpha$ and IFN-$gamma$ and higher IL-6 concentrations, compared to clinical malaria. Ex-vivo whole blood cytokine production to LPS and S. aureus was significantly lower in asymptomatic malaria compared to controls. Whole blood IFN-$gamma$ and IL-10 production in response to Salmonella was also lower in asymptomatic malaria. Interpretation: In children with asymptomatic malaria, cytokine responses upon ex-vivo bacterial stimulation are downregulated. Further studies are needed to explore if the suggested impaired innate immune response to bacterial pathogens also translates into impaired control of pathogens such as Salmonella spp. Close doi:10.3389/fimmu.2021.614817 Close
	Paul Sondo, Marc Christian Tahita, Toussaint Rouamba, Karim Derra, Bérenger Kaboré, Cheick Sa"id Compaoré, Florence Ouédraogo, Eli Rouamba, Hamidou Ilboudo, Estelle A"issa Bambara, Macaire Nana, Edmond Yabré Sawadogo, Hermann Sorgho, Athanase Mwinessobaonfou Somé, Innocent Valéa, Prabin Dahal, Maminata Traoré/Coulibaly, Halidou Tinto Assessment of a combined strategy of seasonal malaria chemoprevention and supplementation with vitamin A, zinc and Plumpy’Doz™ to prevent malaria and malnutrition in children under 5 years old in Burkina Faso: a randomized open-label trial (SMC-NUT) (Journal Article) In: Trials, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 360, 2021, ISSN: 1745-6215, (PMID: 34030705 PMCID: PMC8142067). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Antimalarials/adverse effects, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Chemoprevention, Child, Child Nutrition Disorders, Dietary Supplements, Humans, Infant, Malaria, Malaria/diagnosis/epidemiology/prevention & control, Malnutrition, Malnutrition/diagnosis/drug therapy/prevention & control, Pharmaceutical Preparations, Plumpy’Doz™, Preschool, Randomized controlled trial, Seasonal chemoprevention, Seasons, Vitamin A, Vitamin A/adverse effects, Zinc) Close @article{Sondo2021-kc, title = {Assessment of a combined strategy of seasonal malaria chemoprevention and supplementation with vitamin A, zinc and Plumpy'Doz™ to prevent malaria and malnutrition in children under 5 years old in Burkina Faso: a randomized open-label trial (SMC-NUT)}, author = {Paul Sondo and Marc Christian Tahita and Toussaint Rouamba and Karim Derra and B\'{e}renger Kabor\'{e} and Cheick Sa"id Compaor\'{e} and Florence Ou\'{e}draogo and Eli Rouamba and Hamidou Ilboudo and Estelle A"issa Bambara and Macaire Nana and Edmond Yabr\'{e} Sawadogo and Hermann Sorgho and Athanase Mwinessobaonfou Som\'{e} and Innocent Val\'{e}a and Prabin Dahal and Maminata Traor\'{e}/Coulibaly and Halidou Tinto}, doi = {10.1186/s13063-021-05320-7}, issn = {1745-6215}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-05-24}, urldate = {2021-05-24}, journal = {Trials}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {360}, publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Malaria and malnutrition represent major public health concerns worldwide especially in Sub-Sahara Africa. Despite implementation of seasonal malaria chemoprophylaxis (SMC), an intervention aimed at reducing malaria incidence among children aged 3-59 months, the burden of malaria and associated mortality among children below age 5 years remains high in Burkina Faso. Malnutrition, in particular micronutrient deficiency, appears to be one of the potential factors that can negatively affect the effectiveness of SMC. Treating micronutrient deficiencies is known to reduce the incidence of malaria in highly prevalent malaria zone such as rural settings. Therefore, we hypothesized that a combined strategy of SMC together with a daily oral nutrients supplement will enhance the immune response and decrease the incidence of malaria and malnutrition among children under SMC coverage. METHODS: Children (6-59 months) under SMC coverage receiving vitamin A supplementation will be randomly assigned to one of the three study arms (a) SMC + vitamin A alone, (b) SMC + vitamin A + zinc, or (c) SMC + vitamin A + Plumpy'Doz™ using 1:1:1 allocation ratio. After each SMC monthly distribution, children will be visited at home to confirm drug administration and followed-up for 1 year. Anthropometric indicators will be recorded at each visit and blood samples will be collected for microscopy slides, haemoglobin measurement, and spotted onto filter paper for further PCR analyses. The primary outcome measure is the incidence of malaria in each arm. Secondary outcome measures will include mid-upper arm circumference and weight gain from baseline measurements, coverage and compliance to SMC, occurrence of adverse events (AEs), and prevalence of molecular markers of antimalarial resistance comprising Pfcrt, Pfmdr1, Pfdhfr, and Pfdhps. DISCUSSION: This study will demonstrate an integrated strategy of malaria and malnutrition programmes in order to mutualize resources for best impact. By relying on existing strategies, the policy implementation of this joint intervention will be scalable at country and regional levels. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04238845 . Registered on 23 January 2020 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04238845.}, note = {PMID: 34030705 PMCID: PMC8142067}, keywords = {Antimalarials/adverse effects, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Chemoprevention, Child, Child Nutrition Disorders, Dietary Supplements, Humans, Infant, Malaria, Malaria/diagnosis/epidemiology/prevention \& control, Malnutrition, Malnutrition/diagnosis/drug therapy/prevention \& control, Pharmaceutical Preparations, Plumpy’Doz™, Preschool, Randomized controlled trial, Seasonal chemoprevention, Seasons, Vitamin A, Vitamin A/adverse effects, Zinc}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: Malaria and malnutrition represent major public health concerns worldwide especially in Sub-Sahara Africa. Despite implementation of seasonal malaria chemoprophylaxis (SMC), an intervention aimed at reducing malaria incidence among children aged 3-59 months, the burden of malaria and associated mortality among children below age 5 years remains high in Burkina Faso. Malnutrition, in particular micronutrient deficiency, appears to be one of the potential factors that can negatively affect the effectiveness of SMC. Treating micronutrient deficiencies is known to reduce the incidence of malaria in highly prevalent malaria zone such as rural settings. Therefore, we hypothesized that a combined strategy of SMC together with a daily oral nutrients supplement will enhance the immune response and decrease the incidence of malaria and malnutrition among children under SMC coverage. METHODS: Children (6-59 months) under SMC coverage receiving vitamin A supplementation will be randomly assigned to one of the three study arms (a) SMC + vitamin A alone, (b) SMC + vitamin A + zinc, or (c) SMC + vitamin A + Plumpy’Doz™ using 1:1:1 allocation ratio. After each SMC monthly distribution, children will be visited at home to confirm drug administration and followed-up for 1 year. Anthropometric indicators will be recorded at each visit and blood samples will be collected for microscopy slides, haemoglobin measurement, and spotted onto filter paper for further PCR analyses. The primary outcome measure is the incidence of malaria in each arm. Secondary outcome measures will include mid-upper arm circumference and weight gain from baseline measurements, coverage and compliance to SMC, occurrence of adverse events (AEs), and prevalence of molecular markers of antimalarial resistance comprising Pfcrt, Pfmdr1, Pfdhfr, and Pfdhps. DISCUSSION: This study will demonstrate an integrated strategy of malaria and malnutrition programmes in order to mutualize resources for best impact. By relying on existing strategies, the policy implementation of this joint intervention will be scalable at country and regional levels. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04238845 . Registered on 23 January 2020 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04238845. Close doi:10.1186/s13063-021-05320-7 Close
	Joel D Bognini, Sekou Samadoulougou, Mady Ouedraogo, Tiga David Kangoye, Carine Van Malderen, Halidou Tinto, Fati Kirakoya-Samadoulougou Socioeconomic inequalities in curative healthcare-seeking for children under five before and after the free healthcare initiative in Sierra Leone: analysis of population-based survey data (Journal Article) In: Int. J. Equity Health, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 124, 2021, ISSN: 1475-9276, (PMID: 34020665 PMCID: PMC8140517). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Adolescent, Adult, Child, Children under five, Delivery of Health Care/economics, Female, Health Care Surveys, Healthcare Disparities/economics/statistics & numerical data, Healthcare utilization, Humans, Infant, Male, Parents/psychology, Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics & numerical data, Preschool, Sierra Leone, Socioeconomic Factors, Young Adult) Close @article{Bognini2021-mk, title = {Socioeconomic inequalities in curative healthcare-seeking for children under five before and after the free healthcare initiative in Sierra Leone: analysis of population-based survey data}, author = {Joel D Bognini and Sekou Samadoulougou and Mady Ouedraogo and Tiga David Kangoye and Carine Van Malderen and Halidou Tinto and Fati Kirakoya-Samadoulougou}, doi = {10.1186/s12939-021-01474-7}, issn = {1475-9276}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-05-21}, urldate = {2021-05-21}, journal = {Int. J. Equity Health}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {124}, publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic inequalities between and within countries lead to disparities in the use of health services. These disparities could lead to child mortality in children under 5 years by depriving them of healthcare. Therefore, initiatives to remove healthcare fees such as the Free Healthcare Initiative (FHCI) adopted in Sierra Leone can contribute to reducing these inequities in healthcare-seeking for children. This study aimed to assess the socioeconomic inequalities in healthcare-seeking for children under 5 years of age before and after the implementation of the FHCI. METHODS: Data were included on 1207, 2815, 1633, and 1476 children under 5 years of age with fever from the 2008, 2013, 2016, and 2019 nationwide surveys, respectively. Concentration curves were drawn for the period before (2008) and after (2013-2019) the implementation of the FHCI to assess socioeconomic inequalities in healthcare-seeking. Finally, Erreyger's corrected concentration indices were calculated to understand the magnitude of these inequalities. RESULTS: Before the implementation of the FHCI, there were inequalities in healthcare-seeking for children under five (Erreyger's corrected concentration index (CI) = 0.168, standard error (SE) = 0.049; p < 0.001) in favor of the wealthy households. These inequalities decreased after the implementation of the FHCI (CI = 0.061, SE = 0.033; p = 0.06 in 2013, CI = 0.039, SE = 0.04; p = 0.32 in 2016, and CI = - 0.0005, SE = 0.362; p = 0.98 in 2019). Furthermore, before the implementation of the FHCI, a significant pro-rich inequality in the districts of Kenema (CI = 0.117, SE = 0.168, p = 0.021), Kono (CI = 0.175, SE = 0.078, p = 0.028) and Western Area Urban (CI = 0.070, SE = 0.032, p = 0.031) has been observed. After the implementation of the FHCI in 2019, these disparities were reduced, 11 of the 14 districts had a CI around the value of equality, and only in 2 districts the pro-rich inequality were significant (Western Area Urban (CI = 0.035, SE = 0.016, p = 0.039) and Western Area Rural (CI = 0.066, SE = 0.030, p = 0.027)). CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that socio-economic inequalities in healthcare-seeking for children have been considerably reduced after the FHCI in Sierra Leone. To further reduce these inequalities, policy actions can focus on the increase of availability of health services in the districts where the healthcare-seeking remained pro-rich.}, note = {PMID: 34020665 PMCID: PMC8140517}, keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Child, Children under five, Delivery of Health Care/economics, Female, Health Care Surveys, Healthcare Disparities/economics/statistics \& numerical data, Healthcare utilization, Humans, Infant, Male, Parents/psychology, Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics \& numerical data, Preschool, Sierra Leone, Socioeconomic Factors, Young Adult}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic inequalities between and within countries lead to disparities in the use of health services. These disparities could lead to child mortality in children under 5 years by depriving them of healthcare. Therefore, initiatives to remove healthcare fees such as the Free Healthcare Initiative (FHCI) adopted in Sierra Leone can contribute to reducing these inequities in healthcare-seeking for children. This study aimed to assess the socioeconomic inequalities in healthcare-seeking for children under 5 years of age before and after the implementation of the FHCI. METHODS: Data were included on 1207, 2815, 1633, and 1476 children under 5 years of age with fever from the 2008, 2013, 2016, and 2019 nationwide surveys, respectively. Concentration curves were drawn for the period before (2008) and after (2013-2019) the implementation of the FHCI to assess socioeconomic inequalities in healthcare-seeking. Finally, Erreyger’s corrected concentration indices were calculated to understand the magnitude of these inequalities. RESULTS: Before the implementation of the FHCI, there were inequalities in healthcare-seeking for children under five (Erreyger’s corrected concentration index (CI) = 0.168, standard error (SE) = 0.049; p < 0.001) in favor of the wealthy households. These inequalities decreased after the implementation of the FHCI (CI = 0.061, SE = 0.033; p = 0.06 in 2013, CI = 0.039, SE = 0.04; p = 0.32 in 2016, and CI = - 0.0005, SE = 0.362; p = 0.98 in 2019). Furthermore, before the implementation of the FHCI, a significant pro-rich inequality in the districts of Kenema (CI = 0.117, SE = 0.168, p = 0.021), Kono (CI = 0.175, SE = 0.078, p = 0.028) and Western Area Urban (CI = 0.070, SE = 0.032, p = 0.031) has been observed. After the implementation of the FHCI in 2019, these disparities were reduced, 11 of the 14 districts had a CI around the value of equality, and only in 2 districts the pro-rich inequality were significant (Western Area Urban (CI = 0.035, SE = 0.016, p = 0.039) and Western Area Rural (CI = 0.066, SE = 0.030, p = 0.027)). CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that socio-economic inequalities in healthcare-seeking for children have been considerably reduced after the FHCI in Sierra Leone. To further reduce these inequalities, policy actions can focus on the increase of availability of health services in the districts where the healthcare-seeking remained pro-rich. Close doi:10.1186/s12939-021-01474-7 Close
	Yeka Adoke, Rella Zoleko-Manego, Serge Ouoba, Alfred B Tiono, Grace Kaguthi, Juv^encio Eduardo Bonzela, Tran Thanh Duong, Alain Nahum, Marielle Bouyou-Akotet, Bernhards Ogutu, Alphonse Ouedraogo, Fiona Macintyre, Andreas Jessel, Bart Laurijssens, Mohammed H Cherkaoui-Rbati, Cathy Cantalloube, Anne Claire Marrast, Rapha"el Bejuit, David White, Timothy N C Wells, Florian Wartha, Didier Leroy, Afizi Kibuuka, Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma, Daouda Ouattara, Ir`ene Mugenya, Bui Quang Phuc, Francis Bohissou, Denise P Mawili-Mboumba, Fredrick Olewe, Issiaka Soulama, Halidou Tinto, FALCI Study Group A randomized, double-blind, phase 2b study to investigate the efficacy, safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of a single-dose regimen of ferroquine with artefenomel in adults and children with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria (Journal Article) In: Malar. J., vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 222, 2021, ISSN: 1475-2875, (PMID: 34011358 PMCID: PMC8135182). (Abstract \| Links \| BibTeX \| Altmetric \| Tags: Adamantane/administration & dosage/analogs & derivatives, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aminoquinolines/administration & dosage, Benin, Burkina Faso, C580Y, Child, Combination treatment, Double-Blind Method, Drug Combinations, Exposure–response, Falciparum/prevention & control, Female, Ferroquine, Ferrous Compounds/administration & dosage, Gabon, Humans, Infant, Kelch-13 mutation, Kenya, Malaria, Male, Metallocenes/administration & dosage, Middle Aged, Mozambique, Parasite clearance, Peroxides/administration & dosage, Pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, Plasmodium falciparum/drug effects, Preschool, resistance, Uganda, Vietnam, Vomiting, Young Adult) Close @article{Adoke2021-el, title = {A randomized, double-blind, phase 2b study to investigate the efficacy, safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of a single-dose regimen of ferroquine with artefenomel in adults and children with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria}, author = {Yeka Adoke and Rella Zoleko-Manego and Serge Ouoba and Alfred B Tiono and Grace Kaguthi and Juv^encio Eduardo Bonzela and Tran Thanh Duong and Alain Nahum and Marielle Bouyou-Akotet and Bernhards Ogutu and Alphonse Ouedraogo and Fiona Macintyre and Andreas Jessel and Bart Laurijssens and Mohammed H Cherkaoui-Rbati and Cathy Cantalloube and Anne Claire Marrast and Rapha"el Bejuit and David White and Timothy N C Wells and Florian Wartha and Didier Leroy and Afizi Kibuuka and Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma and Daouda Ouattara and Ir`ene Mugenya and Bui Quang Phuc and Francis Bohissou and Denise P Mawili-Mboumba and Fredrick Olewe and Issiaka Soulama and Halidou Tinto and FALCI Study Group}, doi = {10.1186/s12936-021-03749-4}, issn = {1475-2875}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-05-19}, urldate = {2021-05-19}, journal = {Malar. J.}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {222}, publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: For uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria, highly efficacious single-dose treatments are expected to increase compliance and improve treatment outcomes, and thereby may slow the development of resistance. The efficacy and safety of a single-dose combination of artefenomel (800 mg) plus ferroquine (400/600/900/1200 mg doses) for the treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria were evaluated in Africa (focusing on children $\leq$ 5 years) and Asia. METHODS: The study was a randomized, double-blind, single-dose, multi-arm clinical trial in patients aged > 6 months to 5 years and 20 Asian patients. None of the treatment arms met the target efficacy criterion for PCR-adjusted ACPR at Day 28 (lower limit of 95% confidence interval [CI] > 90%). PCR-adjusted ACPR at Day 28 [95% CI] in the PP Set ranged from 78.4% [64.7; 88.7%] to 91.7% [81.6; 97.2%] for the 400 mg to 1200 mg ferroquine dose. Efficacy rates were low in Vietnamese patients, ranging from 20 to 40%. A clear relationship was found between drug exposure (artefenomel and ferroquine concentrations at Day 7) and efficacy (primary endpoint), with higher concentrations of both drugs resulting in higher efficacy. Six distinct kelch-13 mutations were detected in parasite isolates from 10/272 African patients (with 2 mutations known to be associated with artemisinin resistance) and 18/20 Asian patients (all C580Y mutation). Vomiting within 6 h of initial artefenomel administration was common (24.6%) and associated with lower drug exposures. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of artefenomel/ferroquine combination was suboptimal in African children aged $\leq$ 5 years, the population of interest, and vomiting most likely had a negative impact on efficacy. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02497612. Registered 14 Jul 2015, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02497612?term=NCT02497612\&draw=2\&rank=1.}, note = {PMID: 34011358 PMCID: PMC8135182}, keywords = {Adamantane/administration \& dosage/analogs \& derivatives, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aminoquinolines/administration \& dosage, Benin, Burkina Faso, C580Y, Child, Combination treatment, Double-Blind Method, Drug Combinations, Exposure\textendashresponse, Falciparum/prevention \& control, Female, Ferroquine, Ferrous Compounds/administration \& dosage, Gabon, Humans, Infant, Kelch-13 mutation, Kenya, Malaria, Male, Metallocenes/administration \& dosage, Middle Aged, Mozambique, Parasite clearance, Peroxides/administration \& dosage, Pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, Plasmodium falciparum/drug effects, Preschool, resistance, Uganda, Vietnam, Vomiting, Young Adult}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close BACKGROUND: For uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria, highly efficacious single-dose treatments are expected to increase compliance and improve treatment outcomes, and thereby may slow the development of resistance. The efficacy and safety of a single-dose combination of artefenomel (800 mg) plus ferroquine (400/600/900/1200 mg doses) for the treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria were evaluated in Africa (focusing on children $łeq$ 5 years) and Asia. METHODS: The study was a randomized, double-blind, single-dose, multi-arm clinical trial in patients aged > 6 months to 5 years and 20 Asian patients. None of the treatment arms met the target efficacy criterion for PCR-adjusted ACPR at Day 28 (lower limit of 95% confidence interval [CI] > 90%). PCR-adjusted ACPR at Day 28 [95% CI] in the PP Set ranged from 78.4% [64.7; 88.7%] to 91.7% [81.6; 97.2%] for the 400 mg to 1200 mg ferroquine dose. Efficacy rates were low in Vietnamese patients, ranging from 20 to 40%. A clear relationship was found between drug exposure (artefenomel and ferroquine concentrations at Day 7) and efficacy (primary endpoint), with higher concentrations of both drugs resulting in higher efficacy. Six distinct kelch-13 mutations were detected in parasite isolates from 10/272 African patients (with 2 mutations known to be associated with artemisinin resistance) and 18/20 Asian patients (all C580Y mutation). Vomiting within 6 h of initial artefenomel administration was common (24.6%) and associated with lower drug exposures. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of artefenomel/ferroquine combination was suboptimal in African children aged $łeq$ 5 years, the population of interest, and vomiting most likely had a negative impact on efficacy. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02497612. Registered 14 Jul 2015, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02497612?term=NCT02497612&draw=2&rank=1. Close doi:10.1186/s12936-021-03749-4 Close

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" Our main objective is to develop and maintain over time a good expertise and infrastructure ensuring high quality training and clinical research." Prof Halidou TINTO, PharmD, Msc, PhD Head of the CRUN

2022

Journal Articles

2021

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CRUN

Projects

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" Our main objective is to develop and maintain over time a good expertise and infrastructure ensuring high quality training and clinical research."
Prof Halidou TINTO, PharmD, Msc, PhD Head of the CRUN