Background: Genetic control tools, such as the sterile insect technique (SIT) and genetically modified mosquitoes (GMMs), require releasing males comparable to their wild counterparts. Ensuring that released males do not exhibit higher insecticide resistance is critical. This study assessed the phenotypic characteristics and insecticide susceptibility of key dengue and malaria vector species. Methods: Phenotypic resistance to deltamethrin (0.05%) was tested in two-to-five-day-old male and female Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) (Borabora and Bobo strains) and Anopheles coluzzii (Coetzee & Wilkerson, 2013) (Vallee du Kou strain) using WHO susceptibility guidelines. Wing measurements of live and dead mosquitoes were used to assess body size. Results: Mortality rates were similar between male and female Ae. aegypti (Bobo strain) and An. coluzzii, while Ae. aegypti Borabora was fully susceptible in both sexes. Females were consistently larger than males, with significantly larger live females than dead ones in the Ae. aegypti Bobo strain. Conclusion: This study highlights sex-specific differences in body size and insecticide susceptibility. Integrating these analyses into vector management programs is essential for the success and sustainability of SIT- and GMM-based interventions targeting malaria and dengue vectors. Implications for integrating genetic control strategies are discussed.

Malaria transmission in sub-Saharan Africa is dominated by the An. gambiae complex and An. funestus group, whose distribution varies across ecological settings. Secondary species occur at lower densities, but their role in transmission may differ from one locality to another depending on local conditions. Assessing Anopheles biodiversity using ecological indices is therefore essential to characterise their diversity and relative abundance. This study investigated the biodiversity and spatial distribution of Anopheles species across the three climatic zones of Burkina Faso to guide effective vector control strategies. Indoor resting mosquitoes were collected from 67 health districts across the 13 regions of Burkina Faso between September and December 2022 using pyrethroid spray catches. A total of 30,521 Anopheles mosquitoes were identified, with An. gambiae s.l. dominating (94.4%). The Sudano-Sahelian zone recorded the highest abundance, followed by the Soudanian and Sahelian zones. Biodiversity decreased from humid southern to arid northern areas, with the Soudanian zone showing the highest diversity. Molecular analysis of 2026 An. gambiae s.l. specimens revealed marked heterogeneity: An. coluzzii predominated in Sahelian (74.9%) and Sudano-Sahelian (71.2%) zones, while An. gambiae s.s. was most frequent in the Soudanian zone (53.8%). These results highlight spatial and ecological differences in Anopheles composition across Burkina Faso and emphasize the need for locally adapted malaria vector control strategies.

The effect of helminthiasis on host immunity is a neglected area of research, particularly in tuberculosis (TB) infection. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of helminthiasis on immunological and haematological parameters in newly diagnosed TB patients in Bobo-Dioulasso. After all biological analyses, we formed three subpopulations: group 1 (n = 82), as control, were participants without helminthic or Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex infection (Mtb−/Helm−), group 2 (n = 73) were TB patients without helminthic infection (Mtb+/Helm−), and group 3 (n = 22) were TB patients with helminthic infection (Mtb+/Helm+). The proportion of helminth coinfection was 23.16% (22/95) in TB patients, and Schistosoma mansoni infection was found in 77.3% (17/22) cases of helminthiasis observed in this study. A low CD4 T cell count and a low CD4:CD8 ratio were significantly associated with concomitant infection with helminths and the Mtb complex (Mtb+/Helm+) compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the CD8 median among the three participating groups (p > 0.05). Lymphopenia, monocytosis, thrombocytosis, and hypochromic microcytic anaemia were the haematological defects observed in the Mtb+/Helm+ and Mtb+/Helm− patients. Exploring these types of immune–haematological biomarkers would be a valuable aid in diagnosing and a better follow-up and monitoring of the tuberculosis–helminthiasis coinfection.

Background: Aedes aegypti , the primary vector of Dengue fever in Burkina Faso, breeds in a variety of domestic and peri-domestic water holding containers. The influence of these water containers on the mosquitoes’ ability to survive exposure to chemical insecticides remains unclear. This study investigated the insecticide susceptibility profile of Aedes aegypti in relation to larval habitat types in three districts of Ouagadougou. Methods: Adult females reared from larvae collected in “domestic containers” and “car tires” were exposed separately to papers impregnated with deltamethrin, pirimiphos-methyl, and bendiocarb to determine their susceptibility profiles. A subsample of mosquitoes per locality and container type was screened for the F1534C, V1016I and V410L kdr mutations involved in pyrethroid resistance. Results: Mosquito population from the three localities showed high resistance to deltamethrin and pirimiphos-methyl and moderate resistance to bendiocarbe, with mortality rates ranging from 15% to 27%, 21% to 33% and 67% to 86%, respectively. Mosquitoes from the "domestic containers" were significantly more resistant to deltamethrin than those from tires (10% vs. 22%, p < 0.002). The frequency of the 1534C mutation was also significantly higher in the "domestic containers" compared to those from tires (0.88 vs. 0.76, p = 0.013).The other mutations 1016I and 410L, were reported with an overall frequency of 0.51 and 0.36, respectively. Conclusions: These findings suggest that larval habitat type may influence both the level and mechanisms of resistance in Aedes aegypti . This has important implications for the design of targeted vector control strategies in dengue-endemic settings.

: We report the frequency and associated factors of tuberculosis (TB) and parasite coinfection from newly diagnosed pulmonary TB patients (TB+) and non-TB participants (TB−) from the Regional Tuberculosis Control Center, households, and health facilities in Bobo-Dioulasso from 2019 to 2021. Biological samples were examined for parasite infection using direct microscopy, concentration techniques, and the immunochromatographic rapid test. Data were analyzed using STATA 14. Of a total of 192 participants involved, 95 were TB+ and 97 were non-TB. There was no statistically significant difference in parasitic infections between the two groups, although it was higher in TB+ than TB− (69.5% [66/95] versus 55.7% [54/97]; P = 0.07). Protozoal infection prevalence was significantly higher in patients with TB+ than in those TB− (61.1% versus 37.1%; P = 0.001). Specifically, Entamoeba spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. followed this pattern with 35.8% versus 19.6% (P = 0.01) and 22.1% versus 8.3% (P = 0.007), respectively. Although higher in TB+ patients, helminthiasis frequency was not significantly different between the two groups (23.2% versus 15.5%; P = 0.2). Helminth species were Schistosomia mansoni (17.9% versus 12.4%), Dicrocoelium dendriticum (3.2% versus 1.0%), Enterobius vermicularis (2.1% versus 2.1%), Wuchereria bancrofti (1.1% versus 0.0%), and Hymenolepis nana (1.1% versus 0.0%). Illiteracy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.0–6.1), smoking (aOR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.1–5.3), and handwashing after defecation (aOR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.2–4.7) were associated with parasites. This study reported a high frequency of parasite coinfection in TB patients. These findings suggest the need for adequate health education for behavioral change and systematic diagnosing of parasites in TB patients for better coinfection management.

In Burkina Faso, the development of the gene drive technology targeting Anopheles coluzzii raises important ecological questions about potential non-target effects. Understanding interactions in mosquitoes’ natural environments is crucial for developing effective post-release environmental safety monitoring. This study assesses the ecological exposure and potential risks to non-target organisms associated with An. coluzzii suppression. Using co-occurrence, niche overlap metrics, and characterisation of physicochemical parameters, we evaluated interspecific relationships among mosquitoes and macroinvertebrate taxa from larval habitats in Burkina Faso. Combined index revealed distinct ecological relationships, ranging from competitive or facilitative coexistence to spatial segregation driven by predation or behavioural avoidance. Based on these interactions, an exposure score was developed to quantify the potential susceptibility of non-target organisms to ecological changes following the removal of An. coluzzii . The results showed variable exposure among taxa, with An. gambiae s.s. having the highest score, followed by An. arabiensis and Culex spp. Predatory taxa such as Corixidae showed niche overlap but limited spatial co-occurrence, suggesting effective predation. The detection of hybrid forms ( An. coluzzii x An. gambiae s.s. ) further highlights the potential for gene flow. This study introduces a quantitative framework that combines ecological indices and exposure scores to predict potential risks to non-target organisms.