Evariste Bako

Campylobacter spp. are major foodborne pathogens, and their increasing antimicrobial resistance poses a growing public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa, where surveillance remains limited. This study investigated the occurrence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles of Campylobacter spp. in food-producing animals, with a particular focus on pigs in Burkina Faso. A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2024 to July 2025 in Ouagadougou and surrounding areas. A total of 251 fecal samples were collected from pigs (n = 101), sheep (n = 54), goats (n = 51), and cattle (n = 45) and analyzed using standard microbiological methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on freshly recovered colonies immediately after identification, according to the CA-SFM/EUCAST 2024 disk diffusion method. A multiplex PCR targeting the 23S rRNA gene for Campylobacter genus identification and species-specific targets (mapA for C. jejuni, ceuE for C. coli, lpxA-C. lari for C. lari, and lpxA-C. upsaliensis for C. upsaliensis) was used for molecular confirmation. Campylobacter spp. were detected in 18.7% (47/251) of samples, with the highest prevalence observed in pigs (35.6%; 36/101), followed by sheep (11.1%; 6/54), goats (7.8%; 4/51), and cattle (2.2%; 1/45). PCR confirmed C. coli in 80.9% (38/47) and C. jejuni in 17.0% (8/47) of positive samples, while one goat sample showed simultaneous detection of both species (2.1%; 1/47). AMR analysis was performed on the 46 samples yielding a single Campylobacter species; the mixed-species sample was excluded. Resistance was highest to ampicillin (69.6%; 32/46), followed by tetracycline (63.0%; 29/46) and ciprofloxacin (54.3%; 25/46). bla_OXA-61 and tet(O) were the most frequently detected AMR genes. These findings suggest that pigs may represent an important reservoir of antimicrobial-resistant Campylobacter in the study setting and highlight the need for a One Health approach to strengthen surveillance and mitigate transmission risks along the food chain.

Campylobacter species are major causes of pediatric gastroenteritis worldwide, yet their burden remains underestimated in West Africa due to diagnostic challenges. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, species diversity, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles of Campylobacter spp. among children under 5 years of age with acute diarrhea in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. From 1 May 2023 to 30 April 2024, 383 stool samples were collected at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Pédiatrique Charles de Gaulle. Samples were analyzed using standard culture on Karmali selective agar and biochemical identification via the API Campy system. AMR testing was performed using the disk diffusion method. Campylobacter spp. were detected in 33 samples (8.6% prevalence). Infection was significantly associated with the 12–23 months age group (48.5%; P < 0.05). Campylobacter jejuni was the most common species (42.4%), followed by C. coli (21.2%) and C. fetus subsp. fetus (21.2%). Other species included C. hyointestinalis (6.1%), C. sputorum (6.1%), and C. lari (3.0%). Alarmingly, 100% of isolates were resistant to ampicillin, erythromycin, and tetracycline. High resistance rates were also observed for amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (93.9%) and ciprofloxacin (75.8%). Gentamicin showed the highest susceptibility (57.6%). All isolates (100%) were classified as multidrug-resistant (MDR). These results highlight a high prevalence of MDR Campylobacter in Ouagadougou, with total resistance to erythromycin, the first-line treatment. The identification of C. fetus at 42°C suggests a high environmental and zoonotic pressure. These findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced genomic surveillance and updated clinical management guidelines for pediatric diarrhea in the region. IMPORTANCE: This study highlights the burden and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter spp. among children under five with acute diarrhea in Burkina Faso. Culture-based detection identified Campylobacter in 8.6% of children, confirming its role as an important but under-recognized cause of pediatric diarrheal disease. High levels of antimicrobial resistance, including complete resistance to erythromycin, raise concerns about the effectiveness of commonly used treatment options. The identification of multiple Campylobacter species, including C. fetus , suggests a broader diversity of circulating strains and possible zoonotic transmission pathways. These findings provide valuable baseline data to strengthen antimicrobial resistance surveillance, improve diagnostic practices, and support evidence-based treatment strategies in West African settings.

Meat is an essential source of nutrients and a vital source of income, but its richness makes it highly susceptible to microbial proliferation if handled improperly. This study aimed to evaluate hygiene practices and microbiological quality (bacterial load, presence of Salmonella and Escherichia coli) of grilled meat in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and to determine the pathogenicity profile of isolated Escherichia coli strains. A prospective study was conducted at 150 grilling sites in Ouagadougou, combining a socio-demographic survey and the sampling of 150 samples of grilled meat (mutton/beef). Conventional microbiological analyses targeted thermotolerant coliforms and Salmonella. Strain identification was performed using API 20E. Virulence genes (Escherichia coli pathovars) were detected using multiplex PCR (16-plex). The survey revealed a critical deficiency in hygiene practices, with only 23% of sites deemed satisfactory. The average thermotolerant coliform load was 3.40 10(4)/CFU/g, well above regulatory standards. Seventy-three strains of Escherichia coli 48.66% (73/150) and three strains of Salmonella 2% (3/150) were confirmed. PCR analysis identified significant diarrhoeogenic pathovars: STEC (9.58%), STEC-ETEC (6.84%), EAEC and ETEC (1.36% each). The contamination observed reflects poor hygiene conditions and risky practices throughout the production chain, posing a real risk to consumer health. It is imperative to strengthen inspection, awareness-raising and training of stakeholders to improve the sanitary quality of grilled meat. Meat is an essential source of nutrients and a vital source of income, but its richness makes it highly susceptible to microbial proliferation if handled improperly. This study aimed to evaluate hygiene practices and microbiological quality (bacterial load, presence of Salmonella and Escherichia coli) of grilled meat in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and to determine the pathogenicity profile of isolated Escherichia coli strains. A prospective study was conducted at 150 grilling sites in Ouagadougou, combining a socio-demographic survey and the sampling of 150 samples of grilled meat (mutton/beef). Conventional microbiological analyses targeted thermotolerant coliforms and Salmonella. Strain identification was performed using API 20E. Virulence genes (Escherichia coli pathovars) were detected using multiplex PCR (16-plex). The survey revealed a critical deficiency in hygiene practices, with only 23% of sites deemed satisfactory. The average thermotolerant coliform load was 3.40 10⁽⁴⁾/CFU/g, well above regulatory standards. Seventy-three strains of Escherichia coli 48.66% (73/150) and three strains of Salmonella 2% (3/150) were confirmed. PCR analysis identified significant diarrhoeogenic pathovars: STEC (9.58%), STEC-ETEC (6.84%), EAEC and ETEC (1.36% each). The contamination observed reflects poor hygiene conditions and risky practices throughout the production chain, posing a real risk to consumer health. It is imperative to strengthen inspection, awareness-raising and training of stakeholders to improve the sanitary quality of grilled meat.

Background and Aim: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to global health, driven largely by antibiotic misuse in livestock farming. This pilot study explores cattle farmers’ antibiotic use practices and their implications for environmental and human health in peri-urban area of Ouagadougou. This study aimed to identify risky antibiotic use behaviors among cattle farmers and evaluate their contribution to environmental contamination and AMR dissemination. Materials and Methods: In April 2023, a survey was conducted among 50 cattle farm owners and managers across four peri-urban area of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Data were collected using structured questionnaires through Kobo Toolbox. Farmers’ practices were categorized as “good” or “poor” based on cumulative scores derived from binary-coded responses. Logistic regression was used to identify associations between practices and AMR risk factors. Results: Among participants, 98% (n = 49) were male, 76% (n = 38) had no formal animal health training, and 96% (n = 48) used antibiotics, primarily tetracyclines. Practices associated with increased AMR risk included reliance on non-veterinary personnel for antibiotic administration and inadequate waste management. Multivariate analysis revealed that traditional farming methods significantly reduced contamination risks (p < 0.05). However, ownership of farms and using antibiotics solely for treatment were linked to higher odds of environmental contamination. Awareness of the implications of antibiotic residues in manure was low, with 82% of farmers uninformed about potential health risks. Conclusion: The study highlights prevalent antibiotic misuse and inadequate biosecurity measures among cattle farmers in Burkina Faso. These practices exacerbate AMR risks, necessitating urgent interventions. Strategies should include farmer education on biosecurity, stricter regulation of antibiotic use, and the promotion of sustainable farming practices. A One Health approach integrating human, animal, and environmental health is critical to addressing AMR challenges. Keywords: antibiotic use, antimicrobial resistance, burkina Faso, cattle farming, environmental contamination, one health.

Street vended foods are developed in West African countries offering a variety of meals to populations. Attiéké is a local popular street vended food widely consumed in Burkina Faso. Street food vending is operated by actors without knowledge of good hygienic practices leading to foodborne infections. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate on behaviors of vendors and consumers of attiéké in three main cities of Burkina Faso. Surveys were performed on vending sites with face-to-face interviews of 300 vendors and 500 consumers. The results revealed the major presence of women (88.67%) in attiéké vending in public areas. Most vendors (68%) do not respect good hygienic practices during food handling. In addition, consumers, mostly consisted of men (57.40%) are not aware of vending conditions and even less of their own hygienic behavior. Regarding the socio-economic importance of attiéké and its role in foodborne illnesses, vendors should be regularly trained and retrained to prevent foodborne disease outbreaks. Similarly, this sector needs to be better organized, by using a holistic approach that involves all the actors.

The African Journal of Laboratory Medicine focuses on the role of the laboratory and its professionals in the clinical and public healthcare sectors, and is specifically based on an African frame of reference.

Aim: Household insect pests, including cockroaches, have gained consideration as potential vectors for multidrug resistant pathogens of public health concern. This study was designed to investigate whether household cockroaches share beta-lactam resistance determinants with human inhabitants. Methods: From February through July 2016, 400 cockroaches were systematically collected from 100 households. Whole insect homogenates and faecal samples from inhabitants of all included households were cultured for cephalosporin-resistant enterobacteria (CRe). The CRe were examined for AmpC, ESBL, and carbapenemase genes; antibiotic susceptibility patterns; and conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance mechanisms. Clonal relationships between isolates were determined by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). Results: Twenty CRe were recovered from whole cockroach homogenates of 15 households. Five harbored ESBL genes ( 2 bla _{CTX-M-15/TEM-1} ; 1 bla _{CTX-M-15/TEM-4} ; 1 bla _TEM-24 ; 1 bla _SHV-4 ), and 3 carried carbapenemase genes (2 bla _NDM-1 genes and 1 bla _OXA-48 gene) all of which were transferrable by conjugation to E. coli J53 recipients. There was high clonal diversity with low inter-species similarity regardless of the beta-lactamase gene sequence. From 6 households, the pair of cockroach and human CRe shared the same antibiogram, ST and/or conjugable bla _ESBL gene sequence (house 34, E. coli ST9- bla _TEM-4 ; house 37, E. coli ST44- bla _CTX-15/TEM-4 ; house 41, E. coli ST443- bla _CTX-15/TEM-1 ; house 49, K. pneumoniae ST231- bla _SHV-13 ). Conclusion: The findings highlight household cockroaches as reservoirs of CTX-M-15, OXA-48 and NDM-1 genes that share beta-lactam resistance determinants with humans.

Cattle farming can promote diarrheal disease transmission through waste, effluents or cattle fecal matter. The study aims to characterize the diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) isolated from cattle feces, manure in the composting process and slurry, collected from four cattle markets in Ouagadougou. A total of 585 samples (340 cattle feces, 200 slurries and 45 manures in the composting process) were collected from the four cattle markets between May 2015 and May 2016. A multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), namely 16-plex PCR, was used to screen simultaneously the virulence genes specific for shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) and enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC). DEC was detected in 10.76% of samples. ETEC was the most prevalent (9.91%). STEC and EAEC have been observed with the same rate (0.51%). ETEC were detected in 12.64% of cattle feces, in 6.66% of manure in the composting process and in 5% of slurry. STEC were detected in 0.58% of cattle feces and in 2.22% of manure in the composting process. EAEC was detected only in 1% of slurry and in 2.22% of manure in the composting process. ETEC strains were identified based on estIa gene and/or estIb gene and/or elt gene amplification. Of the 58 ETEC, 10.34% contained astA, 17.24% contained elt, 3.44% contained estIa and 79.31% contained estIb. The two positive EAEC strains contained only the aggR gene, and the third was positive only for the pic gene. The results show that effluent from cattle markets could contribute to the spreading of DEC in the environment in Burkina Faso.