RESUMO
There is a scarcity of recent epidemiological data on intestinal parasitic infections in France. We conducted a prospective study aimed at estimating the prevalence of 10 enteric parasites in Marseille, France, using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnosis. A total of 643 faeces from 488 patients referred to the Parasitology-Mycology Laboratory of the University Hospital of Marseille over a 6 months period were included. DNA was extracted using a semi-automated method. Parasites of interest were detected using singleplex quantitative PCRs (qPCRs). For positive samples, the Blastocystis subtype was determined by sequence analysis. During the study, the overall prevalence of enteric parasites was 17%. Blastocystis sp. was the most frequent species (10.5%), followed by Dientamoeba fragilis (2.3%) and Giardia intestinalis (2.3%). The prevalence of other parasites was <1% each. The ST3 Blastocystis subtype was predominant (43.6%) and the other subtypes identified were ST1, ST2, ST4 and ST6. This is the first time that a qPCR-based diagnosis has been used to survey the prevalence of 10 enteric parasites in a French University Hospital. This study confirms that fast, specific, sensitive and simultaneous detection in a single stool sample by qPCR clearly outperforms conventional microscopy-based diagnosis. Furthermore, qPCR is particularly well suited to surveying gastroenteritis agents.
Assuntos
Fezes/parasitologia , Enteropatias Parasitárias/epidemiologia , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo Real/métodos , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , França/epidemiologia , Humanos , Lactente , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prevalência , Estudos Prospectivos , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Dirofilariasis is a worldwide zoonotic infection that accidentally affects humans. It is caused by filarial nematodes of the genus Dirofilaria, which are transmitted by mosquitoes. Cutaneous dirofilariasis appears as inflammatory lesions that could be consistent with Wells' cellulitis. We present a remarkable case of human infection with Dirofilaria repens, causing both subcutaneous and pulmonary nodules.
Assuntos
Dirofilariose/diagnóstico , Pneumopatias Parasitárias/diagnóstico , Dermatopatias Parasitárias/diagnóstico , Adulto , Animais , Dirofilaria repens/isolamento & purificação , Dirofilariose/parasitologia , Feminino , Humanos , Pneumopatias Parasitárias/parasitologia , Pele/parasitologia , Dermatopatias Parasitárias/parasitologia , Coxa da PernaRESUMO
Cellular immunity against Leishmania infantum antigens was studied in visceral leishmaniasis patients and healthy subjects living in a endemic area. Only the healthy subjects were TTL positive with production of gamma interferon, whereas the visceral leishmaniasis patients presented a transitory inhibition of their specific cellular response mechanisms.
Assuntos
Imunidade Celular , Leishmaniose Visceral/imunologia , Adulto , Animais , Antígenos de Protozoários/isolamento & purificação , Pré-Escolar , Dinoprostona/análise , Humanos , Lactente , Interleucinas/análise , Leishmania donovani/imunologia , Ativação Linfocitária , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
A typical case of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) has been clinically and morphologically studied. This homosexual man whose past history was significant for i.v. drug abuse and sexually transmitted infection presented several opportunistic infections with a profound impairment of cell-mediated immunity. Autopsy showed an intense lymphoid depletion, CMV-generalized infection, and a primary large cell immunoblastic lymphoma of the brain. The present case is discussed in the light of recent literature.