Angiostrongylus cantonensis Infection of Central Nervous System, Guiana Shield.

We report a case of eosinophilic meningitis complicated by transverse myelitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis in a 10-year-old boy from Brazil who had traveled to Suriname. We confirmed diagnosis by serology and real-time PCR in the cerebrospinal fluid. The medical community should be aware of angiostrongyliasis in the Guiana Shield.

Temporal trends and risks factors for antimicrobial resistant Enterobacteriaceae urinary isolates from outpatients in Guadeloupe.

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infections are bacterial infections most commonly encountered in the community. The resistance rate of uropathogens to commonly prescribed antibiotics has increased worldwide but there are no published data concerning the resistance of strains isolated from community-acquired UTI in Guadeloupe. To assess the susceptibility patterns of Enterobacteriaceae strains isolated from outpatients in Guadeloupe we conducted a prospective study from December 2012 to May 2014 among outpatients consulting at private and public laboratories for urine analysis. Risk factors for E. coli resistance to amoxicillin, third-generation cephalosporin, and ciprofloxacin were also determined. To study the trends of E. coli resistance rates over the past 10 years, data on the susceptibility patterns of E. coli from 2003 to 2014 were also collected from three major laboratories for a retrospective study. RESULTS: During the prospective study, we isolated 1293 bacterial strains from the urine of outpatients presenting for urine analysis. The most commonly isolated bacteria were E. coli (57 %) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (15.5 %). Thirty seven per cent of the E. coli strains were resistant to amoxicillin. Resistance rates to third generation cephalosporin were low for E. coli and other Enterobacteriaceae (3.1 and 12.2 % respectively) and mostly due to the presence of an Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase. Resistance to cotrimoxazole and ciprofloxacin was moderate (17.8 and 15.6 % respectively). However, the resistance rate of E. coli to ciprofloxacin has significantly increased during the last 10 years. Risk factors were consistent with previously reported data, especially for the increasing ciprofloxacin resistance with age. CONCLUSION: General practitioners in Guadeloupe need to be better informed to favor the prescription of fosfomycin-trometamol to reduce the risk of resistance to fluoroquinolones.

First cases of Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection reported in Martinique, 2002-2017.

Neuroangiostrongyliasis is a parasitic disease caused by the accidental ingestion of the nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis in its larval form. Human infection can lead to eosinophilic meningitis, sometimes complicated by life-threatening radiculomyelitis or encephalitis. Although some cases have been reported from other Caribbean Islands, no cases have been diagnosed in Martinique so far. Here, we report the first eight laboratory-confirmed cases of neuroangiostrongyliasis on the island of Martinique, French West Indies, between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2017. One case was fatal and five resulted in neurological sequelae. The medical community should consider the risk of A. cantonensis infection in patients living in or returning from Martinique.

TITLE: Premiers cas d'angiostrongylose à Angiostrongylus cantonensis à la Martinique, de 2002 à 2017. ABSTRACT: L'angiostrongylose neuroméningée est une maladie parasitaire causée par l'ingestion accidentelle du nématode Angiostrongylus cantonensis sous sa forme larvaire. L'infection humaine peut conduire à une méningite à éosinophiles, pouvant évoluer en radiculomyélite ou encéphalite menaçant le pronostic vital. Bien que des cas aient été rapportés dans d'autres îles des Caraïbes, aucun cas n'avait été diagnostiqué à la Martinique jusqu'à présent. Dans cet article, nous caractérisons les huit premiers cas d'angiostrongylose neuroméningée biologiquement diagnostiqués à la Martinique, Antilles françaises, entre le 1er janvier 2002 et le 31 décembre 2017. Un cas s'est révélé mortel et cinq ont engendré des séquelles neurologiques. La communauté médicale doit désormais considérer le risque d'infection à A. cantonensis chez les patients vivant ou revenant d'un voyage à la Martinique.

Angiostrongylus costaricensis infection in Martinique, Lesser Antilles, from 2000 to 2017.

Human abdominal angiostrongyliasis (HAA) is a parasitic disease caused by the accidental ingestion of the nematode Angiostrongylus costaricensis in its larval form. Human infection can lead to severe ischemic and inflammatory intestinal lesions, sometimes complicated by life-threatening ileal perforations. Only one case had been reported in Martinique, an Island in the French Antilles, in 1988. We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of patients diagnosed with abdominal angiostrongyliasis at the University Hospital of Martinique between 2000 and 2017. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the incidence and perform a descriptive analysis of the clinical, biological, radiological, and histopathological features of HAA in Martinique. Two confirmed cases and two probable cases were identified in patients aged from 1 to 21 years during the 18-year period, with an estimated incidence of 0.2 cases per year (0.003 case/year/100.000 inhabitants (IC95% = 0.00-0.05)). All patients presented with abdominal pain associated with high blood eosinophilia (median: 7.24 G/L [min 4.25; max 52.28 G/L]). Two developed ileal perforation and were managed by surgery, with diagnostic confirmation based on histopathological findings on surgical specimens. The other two cases were probable, with serum specimens reactive to Angiostrongylus sp. antigen in the absence of surgery. All cases improved without sequelae. The description of this case series highlights the need to increase awareness of this life-threatening disease in the medical community and to facilitate access to specific diagnostic tools in Martinique. Environmental and epidemiological studies are needed to broaden our knowledge of the burden of this disease.

TITLE: Infections par Angiostrongylus costaricensis à la Martinique, Antilles, de 2000 à 2017. ABSTRACT: L'angiostrongylose abdominale humaine (AAH) est une maladie parasitaire causée par l'ingestion accidentelle du nématode Angiostrongylus costaricensis sous sa forme larvaire. L'infection humaine peut conduire à des lésions intestinales ischémiques et inflammatoires sévères, parfois compliquées par des perforations iléales menaçant le pronostic vital. Un seul cas avait été signalé en Martinique, une île des Antilles françaises, en 1988. Nous avons revu rétrospectivement les dossiers médicaux des patients ayant reçu un diagnostic d'angiostrongylose abdominale au CHU de la Martinique entre 2000 et 2017. Les objectifs de cette étude étaient d'évaluer l'incidence et effectuer une analyse descriptive des caractéristiques cliniques, biologiques, radiologiques et histopathologiques de l'AAH en Martinique. Deux cas confirmés et deux cas probables ont été identifiés chez des patients âgés de 1 à 21 ans au cours de la période de 18 ans, avec une incidence estimée à 0,2 cas par an (0,003 cas / an / 100 000 habitants (IC95% = 0,00 − 0,05)). Tous les patients présentaient une douleur abdominale associée à une éosinophilie sanguine élevée (médiane: 7,24 G/L [min 4,25; max 52,28 G / L]). Deux ont développé une perforation iléale et ont été traités par chirurgie, avec une confirmation diagnostique basée sur les résultats histopathologiques sur des échantillons chirurgicaux. Les deux autres cas étaient probables, avec des échantillons sériques réagissant aux antigènes d'Angiostrongylus sp. en l'absence de chirurgie. Tous les cas se sont améliorés sans séquelles. La description de cette série de cas souligne la nécessité de sensibiliser davantage la communauté médicale à cette maladie potentiellement mortelle et de faciliter l'accès à des outils diagnostiques spécifiques en Martinique. Des études environnementales et épidémiologiques sont nécessaires pour élargir nos connaissances sur cette parasitose.

First Evidence of Angiostrongyliasis Caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles.

Infection by the rat lungworm Angiostrongylus cantonensis represents the most common cause of infectious eosinophilic meningitis in humans, causing central nervous system (CNS) angiostrongyliasis. Most of CNS angiostrongyliasis cases were described in Asia, Pacific Basin, Australia, and some limited parts of Africa and America. CNS angiostrongyliasis has been reported in the Caribbean but never in the Lesser Antilles. The primary objectives of this study were to depict the first case of CNS angiostrongyliasis in the Lesser Antilles and investigate the environmental presence of A. cantonensis in Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles. In December 2013, a suspected case of CNS angiostrongyliasis in an 8-month-old infant in Guadeloupe was investigated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing on cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). The environmental investigation was performed by collecting Achatina fulica molluscs from different parts of Guadeloupe and testing the occurrence of A. cantonensis by real-time PCR. CSF from the suspected case of angiostrongyliasis was positive for A. cantonensis by real-time PCR. Among 34 collected snails for environmental investigation, 32.4% were positive for A. cantonensis. In conclusion, we report the first laboratory-confirmed case of CNS-angiostrongyliasis in the Lesser Antilles. We identified the presence and high prevalence of A. cantonensis in A. fulica in Guadeloupe. These results highlight the need to increase awareness of this disease and implement public health programs in the region to prevent human cases of angiostrongyliasis and improve management of eosinophilic meningitis patients.

Highly drug-resistant Salmonella enterica serotype Kentucky ST198-X1: a microbiological study.

BACKGROUND: Salmonella enterica is a major global food-borne pathogen, causing life-threatening infections. Ciprofloxacin and extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESCs) are the drugs of choice for severe infections. We previously reported a ciprofloxacin-resistant S. enterica serotype Kentucky (S Kentucky) ST198-X1 strain that emerged in Egypt and spread throughout Africa and the Middle East from 2002 to 2008. We aimed to monitor recent trends in the location of transmission and antimicrobial resistance of this strain. METHODS: We analysed isolates of S Kentucky collected by the French national surveillance system for salmonellosis in France from Jan 1, 2000, to Dec 31, 2011, and at two sites in Casablanca, Morocco, between Jan 1, 2003, and Dec 31, 2011. We analysed patterns of travel of patients infected with a ciprofloxacin-resistant strain of S Kentucky. We identified isolates showing resistance to ESCs or decreased susceptibility to carbapenems, characterised isolates by XbaI-pulsed field gel electrophoresis and multilocus sequence typing, and assessed mechanisms of bacterial resistance to antimicrobial drugs. FINDINGS: 954 (1%) of 128,836 serotyped Salmonella spp isolates in France were identified as S Kentucky, as were 30 (13%) of 226 Salmonella spp isolates from Morocco. During 2000-08, 200 (40%) of 497 subculturable isolates of S Kentucky obtained in France were resistant to ciprofloxacin, compared with 376 (83%) of 455 isolates in 2009-11, suggesting a recent increase in ciprofloxacin resistance in France. Travel histories suggested S Kentucky infections originated predominantly in east Africa, north Africa, west Africa, and the Middle East, but also arose in India. We report several occurrences of acquisition of extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (CTX-M-1, CTX-M-15), plasmid-encoded cephalosporinase (CMY-2), or carbapenemase (OXA-48, VIM-2) genes by ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates of S Kentucky ST198-X1 from the Mediterranean area since 2009. Many of these highly drug-resistant isolates were also resistant to most aminoglycosides, to co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole), and to azithromycin. INTERPRETATION: The potential risk to public health posed by ciprofloxacin-resistant S Kentucky ST198-X1 warrants its inclusion in national programmes for the control of S. enterica in food-producing animals, in particular in poultry. FUNDING: Institut Pasteur, Institut de Veille Sanitaire, Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale, French Government Investissement d'Avenir programme.