Epidemiology of syphilis in regional blood transfusion centres in Burkina Faso, West Africa.
BACKGROUND
Syphilis remains a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa, including Burkina Faso. However, few published data are available on the prevalence of syphilis in the population. This study had two main objectives: to determine the seroprevalence of syphilis in a cohort of 37,210 first time blood donors and to study socio-demographic factors associated with the risk of infection by Treponema pallidum.


METHODS
Antibodies to Treponema pallidum were screened by using Reagin Rapid Test (RPR) and confirmed by treponema pallidum haemagglutination test (TPHA).


RESULTS
The overall seroprevalence of syphilis was 1.5% among first time blood donors and was significantly different between centers (p <0.001). The infection was significantly higher in men than women among blood donors in Ouagadougou and Fada N'gourma (P = 0.001 and P = 0.034). The overall seroprevalence of syphilis among blood donors was not associated with either age group or HIV status. In contrast, a significantly high seroprevalence of syphilis was observed in blood donors with HBsAg (P = 0.014) and anti-HCV (P = 0.007) positive.


CONCLUSIONS
Our report shows a low seroprevalence of syphilis in the representative sample of the population of Burkina Faso. The seroprevalence of syphilis remains unequally distributed between urban and rural areas and was not associated with HIV infection.
Pietro Annigoni Biomolecular Research Centre (CERBA)/ Labiogene, University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso ; Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Science and Technique of Masuku (USTM), Franceville, Gabon.
Cyrille
C
Bisseye
National Transfusion centre, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Mahamoudou
M
Sanou
Pietro Annigoni Biomolecular Research Centre (CERBA)/ Labiogene, University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Bolni Marius
BM
Nagalo
National Transfusion centre, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Alice
A
Kiba
Pietro Annigoni Biomolecular Research Centre (CERBA)/ Labiogene, University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Tegwindé Rebeca
TR
Compaoré
Pietro Annigoni Biomolecular Research Centre (CERBA)/ Labiogene, University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Issoufou
I
Tao
Pietro Annigoni Biomolecular Research Centre (CERBA)/ Labiogene, University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Jacques
J
Simpore
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001771:Blood Banks / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002050:Burkina Faso / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013587:Syphilis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
Burkina Faso; HIV; Syphilis; blood donor; seroprevalence