[Vulvovaginal trichomoniasis: epidemiology, clinical and parasitological characteristics]

Background: Trichomonas vaginalis infection is the most prevalent nonviral sexual transmitted infection. The World Health Organization estimates that its prevalence is 170 million cases worldwide each year. In women, he represents the third cause of vaginitis

Aim: to determine the prevalence, to evaluate predisposing factors and to study the clinical and parasitological characteristics of vulvovaginal trichomoniasis in a Tunisian population during a period of 18 months

Methods: This is a transversal study concerning 924 women. We administered a questionnaire to obtain information about the possible risk factors of vulvovaginal trichomoniasis. Vaginal swabs were collected with the help of sterile transportable cotton swabs, followed by microscopic examination. Data were statistically analyzed

Results: Trichomonas vaginalis infection was diagnosed in 3,5% of cases. The study various potential risk factors showed that trichomoniasis was significatively associated with multiple partners, long-term corticotherapy. However, the pregnancy was a protector factor

Conclusion: The research for factors allows not only to explain the appearance of this infection but also, and especially, to establish a disease prevention to avoid their second offense or, at best their arisen in women at risk

[Anemia caused by parasites]

Anemia is a major public health problem and concerns the World Health Organization. It is more common in developing countries particularly in South Asia and Africa. The causes of anemia are varied and parasites can cause it. We propose to study the anemia caused by parasites after a brief hematology and pathophysiology of anemia in general

[First case of subcutaneous dematophytosis in a Tunisian renal transplant patient]

Dermatophytes are keratinophilic and usually infect the corneal layer of the epidermis and appendages On the occasion of immunosuppression, such as solid organ transplant, they can invade deeper tissues or cause an infection of the skin and subcutaneous disseminated. To report the first observation of subcutaneous dematophytosis in a Tunisian renal transplant patient. A 29-year-old man had an erythematous lesion of 2 cm at the front of the left leg. He was treated with prednisone and tacrolimus. The skin lesion was has been neglected. The outcome was the occurrence of oozing whose mycological examination showed numerous hyphae and culture was positive for Microsporum canis. Initial treatment was voriconazole, but an interaction with tacrolimus has shortened the duration of treatment to 1 month. Three months later, the lesion became deeper, and then a biopsy was performed. The mycological examination showed the same appearance, previously described. The patient was put on fluconazole by adjusting the doses of tacrolimus and then underwent surgical excision of the lesions. The evolution after 4 months of antifungal treatment was favorable. The increasing incidence of immunosuppressive therapy has given rise to unusual clinical forms of invasive and sometimes serious fungal agents whose pathogenicity is usually limited. Clinicians should be mindful of superficial fungal infections of the skin in a renal transplant patient

[Procedure and ndications of stool examination in parasitology]

Intestinal parasites are a public health problem in the world especially in tropical and subtropical countries. Despite the improvement in living standards and healthy conditions, these parasitoses remain relatively frequent in Tunisia. Stool specimen examination keeps the fundamental test for screening and diagnosis. It is to directly search the parasite. Respect for the right procedure of collection of stool is an essential step for the reliability and proper interpretation of results of this examination

Is there any change in the prevalence of intestinal and urinary parasitosis among "non-permanent resident" students in Tunisia?

Intestinal parasitosis are cosmopolitan affections, often related to the fecal peril. However urinary bilharziosis is a disease eliminated in Tunisia. As part of monitoring the emergence and re-emergence of intestinal parasitosis and urinary bilharziasis, foreign students benefit from parasitological systematic monitoring stool and urine during their enrolment to the University. To study the prevalence of various intestinal parasitosis and urinary bilharziasis among non permanent resident students in Tunisia. A retrospective survey was carried at the Laboratory of Parasitology- Mycology of Charles Nicolle Hospital of Tunis during the inscription period of 6 university years 2005-2010. 328 students profited from a parasitological examination of stool and urine. 144 students [43.9%] harbored intestinal parasites. More than one parasite was detected in 69 students [47.9%]. Intestinal protozoa were the majority of identified parasites [96.9%]. 9.7% of identified parasites were pathogenic. Three cases [0.91%] of urinary bilharziasis were diagnosed. The prevalence of intestinal and urinary parasitism among the "non-permanent residents" students in Tunisia has not changed. This justifies a systematic parasitologic monitoring for students coming from areas of high endemicity of parasitosis in order to avoid the introduction of these

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of Blastocystis hominis

Blastocystis hominis is an intestinal parasite known since long. It is cosmopolitan and lives in the colon. It is still the subject of controversy regarding its pathogenicity and possibly opportunistic character. We exhibit in this article the results obtained for 4 years on the epidemiological, clinical and biological character and opportunistic Blastocystis hominis, often overlooked in the examination of parasitological laboratories city. This is a retrospective study of 3257 stool examination [PSE], performed in the Mycology Laboratory of Parasitology of the Charles Nicolle Hospital in Tunis over a period of 4 years [January 2005 December 2008]. Detection of Blastocystis hominis has been made by microscopic examination of samples by direct examination and concentration. Blastocystis was found in 7.27% of cases and 48.5% in men. Endolimax nanus is the parasite most frequently associated with Blastocystis [40.4% of cases]. The port was symptomatic in 72.1% of cases, diarrhea is the symptom most often found [27.7%]. There is a seasonal distribution; in fact, it is more frequently diagnosed in summer and autumn. The absence of gravity and the saprophytic nature of this infection do not lead to an indication for treatment even among profoundly immunosuppressed individuals. Only the persistence of clinical disorders associated with the detection of the parasite and in the absence of other micro-organisms and intestinal parasites justifies the treatement. Metronidazole is the molecule used conventionally

Identification of malassezia species from Tunisian patients with pityriasis versicolor

Pityriasis versicolor is caused by Malassezia sp. It is a common worldwide mycosis. Recently, eleven species are known of the Malassezia genus, and are identified in vitro by their morphological characteristics, biochemical tests and by molecular biology. Of this study is the identification of Malassezia species from Tunisian patients with pityriasis versicolor. Specimens were taken from 58 patients with pityriasis versicolor. All samples were both inoculated in Sabouraud dextrose agar and Sabouraud agar overlaid with olive oil. Malassezia species were identified by morphological and physiological. Macroscopy, microscopy, catalase, urease and lipid assimilation tests. We have isolated five Malassezia species: Malassezia globosa being isolated in 76.2%of patients, followed by Malassezia furfur [9.55%], Malassezia sympodialis [4.75%], Malassezia sympodialis [4.75%] and Malassezia pachydermaties [4.75%]. In our study Malassezia globosa presents the main species implicated in the pathogenicity of pityriasis versicolor and Malassezia furfur as the second agent of importance

[First Case of Trichoderma longibrachiatum infection in a renal transplant recipient in Tunisia and review of the literature]

Trichoderma species are filamentous fungi that were previously considered to be culture contaminants. Recently, with the increasing number of risk population, they are described as an emerging pathogen in immunocompromised patients. Trichoderma longibrachiatum is the most common species involved in Trichoderma infections. Here, we report the first case in Tunisia of skin infection caused by Trichoderma longibrachiatum in a renal transplant recipient. The fungus was isolated from fluid puncture of an inguinal abscess and from skin biopsy from a 46-year-old male patient who had been receiving immunosuppressive therapy. Species identification benefited from a molecular approach. Susceptibility tests performed with the use of the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing standardized methodology revealed that the organism is resistant to itraconazole, intermediate to amphotericin B and sensitive to voriconazole, posaconazole and caspofungin. The infection was successfully treated with voriconazole

toxocarose: Une pathologie sous-estimee. A propos de 9 cas

Toxocariasis or visceral larva migrans is a parasitosis due to the migration in the human organism of animal ascarid larvae. Its importance is under estimated and the reported Tunisian cases are rare. We report nine cases of toxocariasis, noted between January of 2000 to march of 2002, in the laboratory of parasitology mycology in la Rabta hospital. They were six children and three adults. The clinical forms are varied: ophthalmologic form [5 cases], general syndrome [1 case], oedema [1 case] and hypereosinophilia [2 cases], and confirmed serologically by the presence of anti toxocara canis antibody using ELISA test. Visceral larva migrans should be kept in mind to avoid severe forms such as ophthalmologic forms