[Update on Dermatobia hominis: South American furuncular myiasis]. / Le point sur Dermatobia hominis: myiase "furonculeuse" d'Amérique du Sud.

Furuncular myiasis is an infestation of the skin caused by Dermatobia hominis larvae known as "ver macaque" in French Guyana, "berne" in Brazil, "torsalo" in Colombia, or "human botfly" in English-language literature. It has identical features in man and domestic mammals. The primary lesion consists of a boil-like inflammatory papule with a central punctum exuding a serosanguinous discharge. The respiratory sinus of the D. hominis larvae may be visible through the punctum. Myiasis secondary to D. hominis accounts for 10% of imported tropical dermatosis observed in Paris. Diagnosis of furuncular myiasis should be considered in any patient with a history of travel or residence in an endemic area. Treatment depends mainly on mechanical removal that may be facilitated by injection of lidocaine into the lesion or prior application of a 1% solution of ivermectin.

[Management of American cutaneous leishmaniasis. Outcome apropos of 326 cases treated with high-dose pentamidine isethionate]. / Thérapeutique des leishmanioses tégumentaires du Nouveau Monde. Expérience à propos de 326 cas traités par iséthionate de pentamidine à fortes doses.

The purpose of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the outcome of pentamidine isethionate treatment (4 mg/kg of Pentamidine by the intramuscular route on Days 1 and 3) of cutaneous leishmaniasis in 326 cases that occurred during an outbreak among French military personnel in French Guyana from 1998 to 1999. A great difference was found between the 205 patients treated in French Guyana (series G) and 32 patients treated at the Laveran Military Hospital in Marseille, France (series L). Failure rate, i.e. 25% in series L versus 5% in series G, was significantly correlated with the delay to treatment which was much longer in series L. Extensive rhabdomyolysis was observed in all cases tested: this side-effect has not been reported. Based on these findings and a review of the literature on pentamidine isethionate, the authors recommend prompt treatment using lower doses. Other treatment alternatives for American cutaneous leishmaniasis are also presented including two of the latest developments in the field, i.e., oral treatment using miltefosine and topical treatment using agents such as paromomycine.

[Epidemiologic surveillance of dengue fever in the French army from 1996 to 1999]. / Surveillance epidemiologique de la dengue dans les armées françaises de 1996 à 1999.

Dengue fever is a widespread disease that can occur outside tropical areas. Several thousand French military personnel are exposed to this infectious risk each year and exposure is expected to rise with the creation of a professional army and the increasing number of foreign missions. As a result, dengue fever has become a major priority for the Armed Services Health Corps (ASHC). A system of epidemiological surveillance based on the active participation of all military physicians has been designed by the ASHC to collect and analyze all data relevant to cases of dengue fever involving French military personnel stationed overseas or at home. The purpose of this study is to present data compiled for the period from 1996 to 1999. Analysis of these data demonstrated that the incidence of dengue fever peaked in 1997 due to epidemic outbreaks occurring in French Polynesia and Martinique. In response to these outbreaks control measures were adapted especially in regard to vector control. This study shows that the system of surveillance implemented by the ASHC is an effective but still perfectible tool.