Current review on the biological diagnosis of leishmaniasis

Recognized since the Antiquity, leishmaniasis diseases are actually threatening 350 millions of people from 88 countries all over the world. Leishmaniasis are a complex of syndromes different in terms of their clinical aspects, specific agents, vectors and reservoirs. During the last decade, the increase of these infections in Man throughout the world rised the urgent needs of reliable methods to recognize the parasite, in order to better understand the mechanisms of its transmission. The identification and characterization of the Leishmania parasites as a key step for diagnosis has to be completed by the recognition of their life cycles in order to incriminate potential vectors and reservoirs. Actually new techniques are improving the identification and characterization potential but also bringing many informations on their biochemical and antigenic nature, which should contribute to develop more efficient treatments and vaccines

[Inquest over fungic plant-life's floor of a swimming pool in Casablanca]

179 samples have been realized on the grounds of an olympic swimming-pool in Casablanca in order to find the fungus responsible of superficial mycosa, the candida albicans and the dermatophytes. The samples have been realized before and after cleaning and they concerned the ground of the circumference of the pool, the diving boards, the showers, the cloak-rooms, the corridors, and the pediluve waters. The mycologic examination showed 22,3% of the positive samples. With isolation and identification of 16 stumps of candida albicans and 68 colonies of dermatophytes [57 of trichophyton interdigitales, 10 of trichophyton rubrum and 1 epidermophyton flocosun]. These pathogen fungus have been found at all the level of samples with a greater tensity at the level of the circumferences of the pools, the pediluve water and the showers. The frequency of isolation in the showers, the cloak-rooms, the corridors and the pediluve waters has been noticeably the same whatever was the sex of the users, the isolation of the candida albicans has been more frequent when it is about women. Finally, the fungus have been isolated even after the cleaning of the ground of the pools but with a density less high than before the cleaning. Measurements of hygiene of the bathers and the ground of the swimming-pools are necessary to reduce the risks of contamination of the users

Cryptosporidiosis in infantile diarrhea in Casablanca

A research of the cryptosporidium on the stools by modified coloration of Ziehl-Neelsen was practiced in 100 diarrheic children, and 50 non diarrheic children, consultant or hospitalized in hospital Ibn Rochd in Casablanca. In these patients parallely, a standard parasitologic examination was practiced in search of other associated parasites. Eleven diarrheic children have Cryptosporidium in their intestine. Among them, ten children are less than 2 years old, and eight presented an acute diarrhea. In the witness group, no positive case have been noticed. The simultaneous research of other parasites showed that the cryptosporidium is generally situated at the second place after the Giardia intestinalis [19 cases], whereas it was the parasite the most frequently isolated in the cases of acute diarrhea. Hence, the necessity to search systematically cryptosporidies in etiologic complete physical examinations of the diarrheas, particularly in the case of acute episode in the nursling

Value of immunodiagnosis of pulmonary aspergillosis: about 327 serodiagnosis

Value of immunodiagnosis of pulmonaly aspergillosis [327 sera]. 327 sera from 214 patients the most of whom were tuberculous have been tested for antibodies to Aspergillus fumigatus, flavus, nigel; nidulans and terreus, by counterimmunoelectrophoresis in an agar gel coated support. Positive sera have been controled by immunoelectrophoresis. 10% of sera investigated were positive and 12% of patients had antibodies. Antibodies to Aspergillus fumigatus have been detected in 78,8% of pulmonary aspergillosis and in 58% of aspergilloma. Neither radiology, nor culture have been helpful for the diagnosis. The immunodiagnosis was negative one to 18 months after medical treatment

Intestinal parasitism of the personnel of the University Hospital of Casablanca

Parasitological analysis has been performed on stools from 240 members of the Casablanca Teaching Hospital personnel. All categories of personnel have been included in the survey. 575 specimens [2,4 specimen per subject] have been examined. 41.7% of the population analysed were carriers and half of this carrier group harbored pathogenic parasites. Polyparasitism was found in 21.3% of the population. Paramedical personnel was more heavily infested than physicians. The rate of infection was significantly higher among attending personnel than among hospitalized patients

North American blastomycosis. About one case

The authors report on a new fatal case of systemic North American blastomycosis. They emphasized the occurence of this mycotic disease in Morocco as well as in other Non American countries and stress the differential diagnosis especially with tuberculosis