Serge Theophile Soubeiga, Kinda Charlotte, Abdou Azaque Zoure, Tegwinde Rebeca Compaoré, Sylvie Zida, Alidou Kagembega, Tani Sagna, Charlemagne Dabiré, Oumarou Ouedraogo, Nadiyah Lasisi, Alexia Kabore, Farida Milène Zida, Binta Fofana, Stéphane Somé, Abdoul Nikiema, Dinanibè Kambire , Dramane Zongo, Issiaka Soulama, Charles Sawadogo, Sandrine Gampini, Henri Gautier Ouedraogo,
Volume 10, Issue 3 (9-2022)
Abstract
Introduction: In Sub-Saharan Africa, the data on the mutations and variants of circulating SARS-CoV-2 is limited. This study aimed to screen specific mutations and variants of SARS-CoV-2 circulating in Burkina Faso. Methods: This study included symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals who underwent diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR on nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs from 7 December 2021 to 12 January 2022. Samples from individuals with a Ct value ≤ 33 were selected for the variants-specific mutation screening. The screening was performed using two kits, “SNPsig® SARS-COV-2 (Escape PLEX)" and "SNPsig® VariPLEX™ (COVID-19) Real-Time PCR Assay". Results: SARS-CoV-2 prevalence was 18.9% (332/1758). A total of 113 samples (34.04%) had a Ct value less than (≤ 33), with only 20.35% (23/113) belonging to symptomatic patients. The mean age was 39.01±13 years. The Beta variant (B.1.351) was the most detected one comprising 78.8% (89/113) of variants. Gamma and Delta variants were detected at a low proportion of 0.9% (1/113). No mutation or variant was detected in seven (6.2%) samples. Conclusion: Specific mutation screening detected Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1), and Delta (B.1.617.2) variants of SARS-CoV-2 circulating in Burkina Faso. The absence of mutations in some samples might suggest variants other than those detected.
