Quality of life in neurogenic patients based on different bladder management methods: A review.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the overall quality of life and patient satisfaction associated with different bladder management strategies in neuro-urological patients. The second objective was to identify other associated factors that may further influence the patient's quality of life. DESIGN: Systematic Review. METHODS: Studies from Pubmed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar databases were extracted using terms relating to 'quality of life', 'satisfaction', in 'neurogenic bladder' combined with 'bladder management methods' that included 'continent and non-continent urine diversion', 'intermittent-catheterization', 'indwelling catheter' and 'condom-catheter'. Only studies with a minimal proportion of 80% of neurogenic bladder patients were included. Search was conducted, and article titles and abstracts were rated. 136 papers were screened and assessed for eligibility. RESULTS: 25 studies were included in the final analysis and consisted of ten retrospective, nine prospective, five cross-sectional and a single randomized controlled trial. In total, 3002 patients were included, with a majority of male (55%) and spinal cord injury (88%) patients. 167 patients had incontinent urinary diversions, 464 had continent urinary diversions (bladder augmentation with or without cutaneous catheterizable channel), 1698 used intermittent catheterization (self or by an attendant), 550 had an indwelling catheter (urethral or suprapubic), and 123 had condom catheters. Quality of life was assessed using a wide variety of validated and non-validated questionnaires. Overall, patients with continent and incontinent diversion tended to have better scores. Use of catheters tended to have more unsatisfactory scores, with indwelling and attendant-intermittent catheterization often scoring worse. On the other hand, patients using self-intermittent catheterization tended to fair well. CONCLUSION: Normal micturition followed by self-catheterization yielded an overall higher quality of life. Data were too divergent to rank the other bladder management methods. However, by improving continence, each method aims to enhance quality of life.

Is YouTube™ a reliable source for patient information about Holmium Laser Enucleation of Prostate?

OBJECTIVES: Prior to benign prostate surgery, the patient's informed consent is mandatory. Among the multiple source of information for patients, social networks are very popular, but the quality of information delivered is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of the information freely available for patients on YouTube™ regarding HoLEP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The term "HOLEP" was searched on YouTube™ on December 24, 2020. Videos that were not in English, French or Arabic, specifically destined to the medical community, with no written or oral comment, patient testimonials, pure surgical technique or had content unrelated to HoLEP were excluded from the study. The patient information sheet by the French Urology Association (AFU) was used to create a list of 31 items classified into 4 categories as follows: anatomy and pathophysiology (6 items), technique and perioperative preparation (10 items), usual outcomes (10 items) and complications (5 items). For each item on the predefined list, correct, missing and incorrect information were rated respectively 1, 0 and -1. RESULTS: Thirty-five videos met the inclusion criteria. Their average length was 6'06"±7'03" [00'20"; 31'30"], with an average number of views of 5279±17,821 [8; 87,354]. The information provided on the videos was written and oral, oral-only and written-only in 51%, 34% and 14% of cases, respectively. 23% of the videos showed surgery sequences, 40% animations and 62% a doctor speaking. Only one video had a quality score greater than 80% and 7 videos got a score below 20%. CONCLUSION: The information about HoLEP on YouTube™ seemed not of sufficiently high quality to allow patients to make informed decisions, and was occasionally misleading. Surgeons still have the duty to give the best quality information, and may point patients towards adequate sources of information, especially those delivered by national and international professional societies.

Dynamics of infestation by Rhinoestrus usbekistanicus in donkeys (Equus asinus) in Tunisia.

Examination of a total of 125 slaughtered donkeys in Tunisian slaughterhouses revealed the presence of 1,508 larvae of Rhinoestrus usbekistanicus in their nasal cavities, with an overall infestation prevalence of 52.8%. The highest overall intensity (number of larvae per infested donkey) and abundance (number of larvae per donkey examined) of infestation were reported in winter (35.6 and 12.1, respectively). Larvae 1 (L1) were the most frequent stage and reached a peak prevalence of 100% during November. The number of larvae 2 (L2) and 3 (L3) was low and the maximum was recorded during March and April. Post-mortem observations showed that infestation intensity increases with age. The ethmoid bone was the most frequently infected portion of the nasal cavity (83.75%). This is the first study on nasal bots in donkeys in Tunisia.

Lors de l'examen des cavités nasales d'un total de 125 ânes abattus dans des abattoirs tunisiens, 1 508 larves de Rhinoestrus usbekistanicus ont été dénombrées, le taux de prévalence de l'infestation s'élevant à 52,8 %. C'est en hiver que l'intensité de l'infestation (nombre de larves par âne infesté) et son abondance (nombre de larves par âne examiné) étaient les plus élevées (elles étaient respectivement de 35,6 et 12,1). Le stade larvaire 1 (L1) était le plus fréquent, avec un pic de prévalence de 100 % en novembre. Le nombre de larves de stade 2 et 3 (L2 et L3) était faible et enregistrait son plus haut niveau aux mois de mars et d'avril. Les observations post-mortem ont montré que l'intensité de l'infestation s'accroît avec l'âge de l'animal. La partie de la cavité nasale le plus souvent infestée était l'os ethmoïde (83,75 % des cas). Il s'agit de la première étude consacrée aux myiases nasales chez l'âne en Tunisie.

Los autores describen un estudio en el cual, tras analizar un total de 125 asnos sacrificados en mataderos tunecinos, se observó en las fosas nasales de parte de ellos la presencia de 1 508 larvas de Rhinoestrus usbekistanicus, con una prevalencia global de infestación del 52,8%. En cuanto a la intensidad (número de larvas por asno infectado) y abundancia (número de larvas por asno analizado) de la infestación, los guarismos globales más elevados se registraron en invierno (35,6 y 12,1 respectivamente). El estadio larvario más frecuente era el primero (L1), cuyo pico de prevalencia, del 100%, se alcanzaba en noviembre. Las larvas de segundo y tercer estadios (L2 y L3) eran poco numerosas, con un máximo registrado en marzo y abril. Las necropsias demostraron que la intensidad de infestación aumenta con la edad. La parte de la fosa nasal infestada con más frecuencia (un 83,75%) era el hueso etmoides. Se trata del primer estudio realizado en Túnez de la presencia de larvas nasales en asnos.

Population dynamics of ticks infesting horses in north-west Tunisia.

A preliminary study was carried out to examine the population dynamics of ticks on 24 pure Arabian horses. The horses were monitored monthly over one year in the Ghardimaou region of north-west Tunisia. A total of 120 adult ticks were collected and identified, leading to the estimation of different parasitological indicators. The ticks belonged to a single genus (Hyalomma) and three species: H. scupense (59%), H. marginatum (28%) and H. excavatum (13%) (p < 0.001). The mean infestation prevalence was 29.5%; the highest prevalence was observed for H. scupense (41.7%) (p < 0.05). The mean overall intensity of infestation was0.3 ticks/horse. The highest mean intensity was observed with H. scupense (0.6 ticks/horse) and the highest individual intensity measurement was observed for H. scupense (1.1 ticks/animal). The mean annual abundance of ticks was 0.1 ticks/animal. There was no significant correlation between a horse's age and the number of ticks (p > 0.05), but the proportion of ticks on mares was significantly higher than that on males: 65.0% and 35.0%, respectively (p < 0.05). To the authors' knowledge, this is the first longitudinal study of tick dynamics in North African horses.

Une étude préliminaire a été réalisée afin d'examiner la dynamique des populations de tiques infestant 24 chevaux pur-sang arabes. Les tests ont été effectués une fois par mois pendant un an dans la région de Ghardimaou au nord-ouest de la Tunisie. Autotal, 120 tiques adultes ont été collectées et identifiées, permettant une estimation de différents indicateurs parasitologiques. Toutes les tiques collectées étaient du genre Hyalomma, dont trois espèces ont été identifiées : H. scupense (59 %),H. marginatum (28 %) et H. excavatum (13 %) (p < 0,001). La prévalence moyenne de l'infestation était de 29,5 % et la prévalence la plus élevée correspondait à H. scupense (41,7 %) (p < 0,05). L'intensité globale moyenne de l'infestation était de 0,3 tique/cheval. L'intensité moyenne la plus élevée correspondait à H. scupense (0,6 tique/cheval), espèce qui a également présenté l'intensité individuelle la plus élevée (1,1 tique/animal). L'abondance annuelle moyenne était de 0,1 tique/animal. Aucune corrélation significative n'a été mise en évidence entre l'âge du cheval et le nombre de tiques (p > 0,05), mais la proportion de tiques chez les juments était plus élevée que chez les mâles, respectivement 65,0 % et 35,0 % (p < 0,05). À la connaissance des auteurs, il s'agit de la première étude longitudinale de la dynamique des populations de tiques chez les chevaux en Afrique du Nord.

Los autores describen un estudio preliminar destinado a examinar la dinámica de población de las garrapatas presentes en 24 caballos purasangre árabes de la región de Gardimau (noroeste de Túnez), sometidos a controles mensuales durante más de un año. Tras recoger y tipificar un total de 120 garrapatas adultas, se calcularon distintos indicadores parasitológicos. Todos los ácaros pertenecían a un solo género (Hyalomma) y a tres especies: H. scupense (59%), H. marginatum (28%) y H. excavatum (13%) (p < 0,001). La prevalencia de infestación media era del 29,5%, mientras que la prevalencia más alta observada correspondía a H. scupense (41,7%) (p < 0,05). El promedio general de intensidad de infestación era de 0,3 garrapatas/caballo. La intensidad media más elevada correspondía a H. scupense (0,6 garrapatas/caballo), especie que también deparó la medida más alta de intensidad individual (1,1 garrapatas/animal). El promedio de abundancia anual era de 0,1 garrapatas/animal. No se observó correlación significativa entre la edad del caballo y el número de garrapatas (p > 0,05), pero la proporción de parásitos en las yeguas era significativamente mayor que en los machos: un 65,0% frente a un 35,0%, respectivamente (p < 0,05). Hasta donde saben los autores, se trata del primer estudio longitudinal de la dinámica de poblaciones de garrapatas realizado en caballos norteafricanos.

Epidemiological survey of vector-borne infections in equids from northern Tunisia.

Leishmaniosis (Leishmania infantum infection) and piroplasmoses (Theileria equi and Babesia caballi infections) are vector-borne diseases with significant economic and public health impacts. Despite their importance, there is a lack of data concerning these infections in equids from Tunisia. The present study was carried out to estimate the prevalence of L. infantum, T. equi and B. caballi in 104 equids from northern Tunisia. The authors reported for the first time on the seroprevalence of anti-Leishmania antibodies in equids in Tunisia (6.7%). The study reported a high infection prevalence of piroplasms (23.1%), revealed for the first time T. equi and B. caballi infections in Tunisian donkeys, and showed that these animals act as reservoirs for the maintenance and dissemination of piroplasms.

La leishmaniose (infection à Leishmania infantum) et les piroplasmoses (infections à Theileria equi et à Babesia caballi) sont des maladies à transmission vectorielle dont les conséquences économiques et l'impact sur la santé publique sont significatifs. Malgré leur importance, en Tunisie la situation des équidés vis-à-vis de ces maladies était jusqu'à présent peu documentée. L'étude décrite par les auteurs avait pour objet d'estimer la prévalence des infections à L. infantum, T. equi et B. caballi chez 104 chevaux du Nord de la Tunisie. La recherche d'anticorps dirigés contre Leishmania a permis de déterminer pour la première fois une prévalence sérologique chez les équidés (6,7 %). L'étude a rapporté une prévalence élevée de piroplasmes (23,1 %) et fait état pour la première fois en Tunisie de l'existence d'infections à T. equi et à B. caballi chez des ânes ; elle montre également que ces derniers font office de réservoirs et jouent un rôle dans le maintien et la dissémination des piroplasmes.

La leishmaniosis (infección por Leishmania infantum) y las piroplasmosis (infecciones por Theileria equi y Babesia caballi) son enfermedades transmitidas por vectores que tienen una importante repercusión en la economía y la salud pública. A pesar de su importancia, existen pocos datos sobre estas infecciones en los équidos tunecinos. Los autores describen un estudio destinado a estimar la prevalencia de L. infantum, T. equi y B. caballi en 104 équidos del norte del país, gracias al cual determinaron por primera vez la seroprevalencia de anticuerpos contra Leishmania en équidos tunecinos (un 6,7%). La investigación puso de manifiesto una elevada prevalencia de la infección por piroplasmas (un 23,1%), reveló por vez primera la infección de asnos tunecinos por T. equi y B. caballi y demostró que estos animales ejercen de reservorio, manteniendo y propagando así los piroplasmas.

Anthelmintic activity of Tunisian chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) against Haemonchus contortus.

The chemical treatment of gastrointestinal parasitic diseases has been undermined by increasing resistance and high toxicity. There is an urgent need to search for alternative natural sources for the treatment of such parasites. In this respect, the present study aims to quantify phenolic compounds of chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) and to study their in vitro anti-oxidant and anthelmintic activities in solvents with increasing polarity. In vitro determination of anti-oxidant capacity was carried out using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical cation methods. In vitro anthelmintic activity was investigated on egg-hatching inhibition and loss of motility of adult worms of Haemonchus contortus from sheep. The results showed that methanolic and aqueous extracts contain more total polyphenols, total flavonoids and condensed tannins than chloroformic and hexanic extracts. ABTS and DPPH assays showed that methanolic extracts had the highest anti-oxidant potency (IC50 = 1.19 µg/ml and 1.18 µg/ml, respectively). In vitro anthelmintic activity showed that both methanolic (IC50 = 1.559 mg/ml) and aqueous (IC50 = 2.559 mg/ml) extracts had the greatest effect on egg hatching and motility of worms (100% after 8 h post exposure at 8 mg/ml). A significant and positive correlation between DPPH and ABTS tests was observed for all tested extracts. Therefore, total phenolic, total flavonoid and condensed tannin values were correlated with IC50 from both ABTS and DPPH, and with inhibition of egg hatching. To our knowledge, this report is the first of its kind to deal with in vitro anthelmintic activities of chamomile extracts.

Effect of adding a mobile health intervention to a multimodal antimicrobial stewardship programme across three teaching hospitals: an interrupted time series study.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of adding a mobile health (mHealth) decision support system for antibiotic prescribing to an established antimicrobial stewardship programme (ASP). Methods: In August 2011, the antimicrobial prescribing policy was converted into a mobile application (app). A segmented regression analysis of interrupted time series was used to assess the impact of the app on prescribing indicators, using data (2008-14) from a biannual point prevalence survey of medical and surgical wards. There were six data points pre-implementation and six data points post-implementation. Results: There was an increase in compliance with policy (e.g. compliance with empirical therapy or expert advice) in the two specialties of medicine (6.48%, 95% CI = -1.25 to 14.20) and surgery (6.63%, 95% CI = 0.15-13.10) in the implementation period, with a significant sudden change in level in surgery ( P < 0.05). There was an increase, though not significant, in medicine (15.20%, 95% CI = -17.81 to 48.22) and surgery (35.97%, 95% CI = -3.72 to 75.66) in the percentage of prescriptions that had a stop/review date documented. The documentation of indication decreased in both medicine (-16.25%, 95% CI = -42.52 to 10.01) and surgery (-14.62%, 95% CI = -42.88 to 13.63). Conclusions: Introducing the app into an existing ASP had a significant impact on the compliance with policy in surgery, and a positive, but not significant, effect on documentation of stop/review date in both specialties. The negative effect on the third indicator may reflect a high level of compliance pre-intervention, due to existing ASP efforts. The broader value of providing an antimicrobial policy on a digital platform, e.g. the reach and access to the policy, should be measured using indicators more sensitive to mHealth interventions.

Dermatological signs in bovine tropical theileriosis (T heileria annulata infection), a review.

Bovine tropical theileriosis (Theileria annulata infection) is an important tick-borne disease in several regions of the world. This paper describes two clinical cases of tropical theileriosis in northern Tunisia with the uncommon sign of skin nodules. The density of nodules was estimated at 15-20 per 10 cm2; they were distributed over the animal's body and were 0.5-2 cm in diameter. Microscopic examination of the skin nodules 18 days after treatment onset showed a perivascular infiltrate of lymphocytes, macrophages and eosinophils. Nevertheless, no schizonts were observed. Appropriate treatment led to the recovery of one of the two animals with total disappearance of the skin lesions; the other animal died. A review of clinical cases of tropical theileriosis (T. annulata infection) with cutaneous lesions is presented. Various dermatological signs are described in the literature: skin nodules, haemorrhagic lesions, cutaneous gangrene, etc. Most authors reported the presence of schizonts in the nodular lesions. Dermatological involvement in bovine tropical theileriosis should be considered by field veterinarians and should be differentiated from other diseases with dermatological signs.

La theilériose tropicale bovine (infection à Theileria annulata) est une maladie majeure à transmission vectorielle présente dans plusieurs régions du globe. Les auteurs décrivent deux cas cliniques de theilériose tropicale survenus dans le nord de la Tunisie, qui présentaient un tableau peu courant de lésions nodulaires. La densité estimée des nodules était de l'ordre de 15 à 20 nodules pour 10 cm² ; ils mesuraient de 0,5 à 2 cm de diamètre et étaient présents sur toutes les parties du corps de l'animal. L'examen au microscope des nodules cutanés 18 jours après le début du traitement a révélé une infiltration périvasculaire de lymphocytes, macrophages et éosinophiles. En revanche, aucun schizonte n'a été observé. L'administration d'un traitement approprié a éliminé l'infection chez l'un des deux animaux, avec une disparition totale de ses lésions cutanées ; l'autre animal est mort. Les auteurs présentent une synthèse des cas cliniques de theilériose tropicale (infection à T. annulata) s'accompagnant de lésions cutanées. Plusieurs manifestations dermatologiques sont décrites dans la littérature : nodules cutanés, lésions hémorragiques, gangrène cutanée, etc. La plupart des auteurs signalent la présence de schizontes dans les lésions nodulaires. Les manifestations dermatologiques associées à la theilériose tropicale bovine doivent être prises en compte par les vétérinaires de terrain et faire l'objet d'un diagnostic différentiel par rapport à d'autres maladies présentant un tableau dermatologique comparable.

La teileriosis tropical bovina (infección por Theileria annulata) es una importante enfermedad transmitida por garrapatas que afecta a varias regiones del mundo. Los autores describen dos casos clínicos de teileriosis tropical diagnosticados en el norte de Túnez que presentaban un síntoma inhabitual: nódulos cutáneos, con una densidad estimada de 15 a 20 nódulos por cada 10 cm2. Los nódulos, distribuidos por todo el cuerpo del animal, tenían un diámetro de entre 0,5 y 2 cm. El examen microscópico de los nódulos a los 18 días de tratamiento reveló una infiltración perivascular de linfocitos, macrófagos y eosinófilos, pero no se observaron esquizontes. La administración del tratamiento apropiado llevó a la recuperación de uno de los dos ejemplares, con desaparición completa de las lesiones cutáneas, mientras que el otro murió. Los autores pasan revista a una serie de casos clínicos de teileriosis tropical (infección por T. annulata) con presencia de lesiones cutáneas. En la bibliografía están descritos varios casos con síntomas dermatológicos: nódulos cutáneos, lesiones hemorrágicas, gangrena cutánea, etc. La mayoría de los autores señalan la presencia de esquizontes en las lesiones nodulares. Los veterinarios que trabajan sobre el terreno deben tener en cuenta que la teileriosis tropical bovina puede acompañarse de afectación cutánea y distinguir esta enfermedad de otras patologías que provocan síntomas dermatológicos.

Molecular phylogeny of Lathyrus species: insights from sequence-related amplified polymorphism markers.

Sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers were used to evaluate the intra- and interspecific variation among 40 Lathyrus genotypes (four species) (Fabaceae). Ten SRAP primer combinations resulted in a total of 94 bands, and they exhibited high interspecific variability. The genetic differentiation among Lathyrus, estimated using AMOVA, was highly significant. The results indicated that 58% of the total genetic variation existed among species, and 42% of the differentiation was within species. This was explained by the high level of genome conservation of these species as well as the recent and slow evolution of this genus. These results were confirmed by the topology of the neighbor-joining cladogram and the results of the principal coordinate analysis. Our data support previous results based on seed protein diversity. These results make SRAP markers choice markers for the study of functional polymorphism that is directly related to the transcriptomic data. The SRAP markers used in this study provide an accurate picture of the population structure within Lathyrus germplasm, which is critically important information for the design of genetic diversity and structure analyses. Moreover, further extensive studies are necessary to fully examine other Lathyrus species and tests that adopt the SRAP technique to enrich the Lathyrus library for next-generation sequencing, thus providing a potent protocol for the study of polymorphism.

Leishmaniosis (Leishmania infantum infection) in dogs.

The authors present an overview of canine leishmaniosis due to Leishmania infantum. This protozoan is transmitted by sandflies and the disease is frequently characterised by chronic evolution. Cutaneous and visceral clinical signs appear as the infection progresses. Lymph node enlargement, emaciation and skin lesions are the main signs observed in the classical forms of the disease. Control is difficult since infected dogs remain carriers for years and may relapse at any time. The mass screening of infected animals and their treatment or euthanasia represent the best way to reduce the prevalence of this disease in endemic regions. Further research is needed to improve the efficiency of the vaccines available to protect dogs against infection. This disease is zoonotic; in humans, clinical cases are reported mainly in elderly people, the young and those whose immune systems have been compromised.

Evolution of rbcL among Lathyrus and Kupicha's classification.

Phylogenetic relationships in the Lathyrus genus were examined using cpDNA data, particularly data attributed to the "barcode" rbcL gene to construct a possible evolutionary scenario. Plant barcoding can be used to differentiate between species within a genus and to conserve DNA within the same species. We assessed the phylogeny of 29 species of Lathyrus using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and unweighted pair-group method and arithmetic mean. The classifications did not agree with current morphological and basic Lathyrus classification. Lathyrus belinensis is a new species that was not described by Kupicha; according to rbcL analysis, the species belongs in the Lathyrus genus. Additionally, the genus Lathyrus has undergone a rapid population expansion as indicated by neutral selection indices.

Sequence divergence of microsatellites for phylogeographic assessment of Moroccan Medicago species.

Six Medicago species were investigated to characterize and valorize plant genetic resources of pastoral interest in Morocco. Samples were obtained from the core collection of the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI). The transferability of single sequence repeat markers of Medicago truncatula was successful with 97.6% efficiency across the five species. A total of 283 alleles and 243 genotypes were generated using seven SSR markers, confirming the high level of polymorphism that is characteristic of the Medicago genus, despite a heterozygosity deficit (HO = 0.378; HE = 0.705). In addition, a high level of gene flow was revealed among the species analyzed with significant intra-specific variation. The unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean dendrogram generated by the dissimilarity matrix revealed that M. polymorpha and M. orbicularis are closely related, and that M. truncatula is likely the ancestral species. The Pearson correlation index revealed no significant correlations between the geographic distribution of the Moroccan species and genetic similarities, indicating local adaptation of these species to different ecological environments independent of their topographical proximities. The substantial genetic variation observed was likely due to the predominance of selfing species, the relative proximity of prospected sites, human impacts, and the nature of the SARDI core collections, which are selected for their high genetic diversity. The results of this first report on Moroccan Medicago species will be of great interest for establishing strategies aiming at reasonable management and selection programs for local and Mediterranean germplasm in the face of increasing environmental change.

Distribution of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in different kind of inland water bodies in northeastern Algeria.

Benthic macroinvertebrates are integral parts of inland waters, inhabiting a diversity of aquatic ecosystems where communities are spatially structured. Macroinvertebrates of some Mediterranean regions such as North Africa are still not well studied. Due this reason we proposed study the community structure in water bodies located in Northeastern Algeria. For this objective, we sampled 12 different kind of water bodies, two dams, three rivers, and seven streams during the period from October 2020 to September 2021. To biotic and abiotic data, a redundancy analysis (RDA) was applied with the aim of determine the role of both kind of variables for grouping the sites. Also, two types of Null models were considered: species co-occurrence and niche sharing for study the potential associations between species reported. Redundancy analysis showed that water velocity and conductivity were the main drivers of community structure of macroinvertebrates. The species co-occurrence results reveal that species associations are ramdom, except for two sites: El fadjoudj and Ain ben baida corresponding to Seybouse river. At the same time, there is no niche sharing and in consequence, there is no interspecific competition except in the two sites: Salah Salah Salah stream and Bouhamdane dam. The results revealed similarities with other similar studies for Algerian rivers and dams, and with other similar water bodies with Mediterranean climate.

Cross-sectional study of cattle lice infestation in the region of Nabeul in north-east Tunisia.

This cross-sectional study is the first to estimate the prevalence of cattle pediculosis in Tunisia. A total of 39 cattle farms in the region of Nabeul in north-east Tunisia were visited and lice were collected by intensively brushing 789 cattle. The prevalence was estimated to be 20.5% on the farms (8/39) and 4.7% in animals (37/789). Collected parasites were examined under a stereomicroscope and three lice species were identified: Bovicola bovis, Linognathus vituli and Haematopinus eurysternus. Thirty-two animals were infested with the chewing lice B. bovis (4%), three with H. eurysternus (0.4%) and two with L. vituli (0.2%). The infestation prevalence was higher in calves under eight months of age (21.6%)than in adults (0.8%). Decision-makers in animal health should consider this parasitic disease in their control and eradication programmes.

Dyggve-Melchiore-Clausen dysplasia (DMC): syndrome associated with a micropenis.

Dyggve-Melchiore-Clausen (DMC) syndrome is a are autosomal recessive spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia associated with mental retardation resulting from mutations in the Dymeclin (DYM) gene mapped in the 18q12-12.1 chromosomal region. We report a case of a consanguineous Moroccan boy with this disease confirmed by the presence of homozygous mutation at c.1878delA of DYM gene. Our patient additionally has a micropenis. We discuss the clinical severity, difficult management of this syndrome and its association with micropenis never described before in the literature.

Ecological structure of aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in the Hauts Plateaux of Northeast Algeria.

Aquatic macroinvertebrates are integral parts of functioning wetlands, inhabiting a diversity of aquatic ecosystems where communities are spatially structured. Macroinvertebrates of some Mediterranean regions such as North Africa are still not well studied. Here, we study the community structure of benthic macroinvertebrates in four different types of lotic and lentic wetlands in the semiarid Haut Plateaux of Northeast Algeria. Macroinvertebrates and 06 physicochemical parameters were sampled in 12 sites belonging to four types of habitats (lotic river, lentic river, dams, and sebkha [saline lentic water body]) during January-December 2021. Eventually, the character lentic-lotic was the most important variable affecting the affecting invertebrate communities in the Mediterranean region. The results revealed that sebkha and dams had a lower Shannon index than lentic and lotic rivers. Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis showed a strong overlap between the community composition in lotic and lentic sites . Howeverin the three types of aquatic groups lentic river, dam and lotic habitats showed a strong overlap between the community whereas sebkha was markedly separated. Redundancy analysis showed that water velocity and pH, were the main drivers of community structure of macroinvertebrates, revealed a strong effect with pH (F1,8=4.15, P = 0.001) and water velocity (F1,8= 3.22, P = 0.002) , separating lotic communities from those that inhabited dams, lentic rivers, and sebkhas. As conclusion, this study contributes to the better understanding of the community structure of macroinvertebrates in semiarid North Africa where wetlands have been experiencing high anthropogenic disturbance.

Dynamics of infestation of tracers lambs by gastrointestinal helminths under a traditional management system in the North of Tunisia.

The authors present a survey of gastrointestinal helminths of sheep on permanent pastures in the extreme north region of Tunisia (Mediterranean climate). Dynamic infestation of animals has been monitored by using batches of three tracer lambs introduced each two months during 2004 and 2005. These lambs were kept in the pens of veterinary school of Sidi Thabet (Tunisia) during three months and then necropsied. Faecal and blood samples were took from tracer lambs each two months during the whole period, and from animal flock only during 2004. The main helminth genera encountered were Trichostrongylus spp., Teladorsagia spp., Strongyloides papillosus and Anoplocephalidea; occasionaly were found Nematodirus, Oesophagostomum, Chabertia, Cooperia, Trichuris and Paramphistomum. The egg count of the ewes and lambs in the flock showed two peaks. For both ewes and lambs there is a gradual increase from January with a peak in May-June. This first peak is considered to be due to acquisition of infective larvae during the rainy and cold season, as evident from the worm burdens of tracer lambs. The second peak was exclusively observed in ewes during late autumn-early winter (November-December); it has two origins: infestation by third larvae stage and the periparturient rise. The worm burdens of tracer lambs showed that there was a gradual accumulation of nematodes from September-October, reaching a peak in March-April; a very low or naught infection is reported during the dry period (July-August). Infection by Anoplocephalidea was higher during the dry season. This study is primordial for a comprehensive control programme implementation against gastrointestinal helminths.

Evaluation of a simple Theileria annulata culture protocol from experimentally infected bovine whole blood.

We have evaluated a new simple technique using whole blood from experimentally infected cattle for the isolation and cultivation of Theileria annulata. The study was carried out on 20 Holstein-Frisian bovines that had been experimentally infected with a virulent lethal dose of Theileria annulata. This technique has been compared to the classical peripheral blood monocyte isolation with Ficoll carried out on 22 experimentally infected Holstein-Friesian calves. The effectiveness of the reference technique was estimated to 86.4%, whilst the effectiveness of the new technique was 100%. Moreover, this new technique leads to time and money saving estimated to € 3.06 per sample. It decreases the contamination risks by reducing the steps of sample manipulation.

Infestation of tracer lambs by Fasciola hepatica in Tunisia: determining periods for strategic anthelmintic treatments.

Ovine fasciolosis causes high morbidity and mortality rates, resulting in large economic losses to the sheep industry in northern Tunisia. The authors surveyed ovine fasciolosis (Fasciola hepatica infestation) in a Barbarine sheep flock in the humid region of Tunisia (Sejnane, Governorate of Bizerte) over two consecutive years, 2004 to 2005. To assess the dynamics of fluke infestation, a total of 36 tracer lambs were introduced into the flock successively, in groups of three, every two months, and their infestations were monitored by coproscopy and necropsy. Coproscopic analysis revealed high mean percentages of infestation of 60% and 65% for flock lambs and ewes, respectively. Similarly, a high percentage of infestations was recorded in the tracer lambs (more than 70%) post mortem. Significant fluctuations in infestation dynamics were observed in the tracer lambs, and three distinct infestation periods were identified: a period of very low, non-constant infestation risk during the warm period (from July to October); a high-risk period from March to June, and a third period with a variable but constant infestation risk (from November to February). Based on these results, the authors propose strategic flukicide treatments with triclabendazole, aimed at reducing mollusc infestation and subsequent pasture contamination by metacercariae, during two main periods: in September and in February, just before the reactivation of the molluscs from aestivation and hibernation, respectively.

Ranking control options for tropical theileriosis in at-risk dairy cattle in Tunisia, using benefit-cost analysis.

An economic evaluation of various control programmes against Theileria annulata infection was conducted on a sample of 49 Tunisian dairy farms where clinical cases of tropical theileriosis had been recorded during the summer. Indicators of morbidity and the prevalence of infection, as well as production and demographic indicators (recorded in the present survey ortaken from secondary sources), were used to rank the potential costs and benefits of various control programmes for tropical theileriosis over a time horizon of 15 years. Three options were considered, i.e. vaccination with a local attenuated cell-line vaccine; partial barn upgrading, based on first roughcasting then smoothing all the walls of the animal premises (inner and outer surfaces); and applying acaricides to control the vector tick population on the cattle. The most important loss from this disease, representing between 22% and 38% of the overall losses, is the loss in milk yield from carriers of T. annulata. Upgrading barns produced the highest mean benefit-cost ratio (1.62 to 3.71), while the ratios for vaccination and acaricides ranged from 0.20 to 1.19 and 0.32 to 0.88, respectively. However, the benefit-cost ratio of vaccination increased (from 1.65 to 5.41), when the costs due to carrier state infection, which vaccination does not prevent, were ignored. Upgrading barns is a sustainable eradication policy against tropical theileriosis, based on a single investment, and is environmentally friendly. This control option should be encouraged by national Veterinary Authorities in regions where tropical theileriosis is transmitted by a domestic endophilic tick.