[Evaluation of the inflammatory process in hepatic disorders: immunochemistry of C alpha-reactive protein and of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein]. / Evaluation du processus inflammatoire dans les atteintes hépatiques: dosage immunochimique de la protéine C alpha-réactive et de l'alpha 1-glycoprotéine acide.

C-reactive protein (CRP) and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (alpha 1-GPA) two acute phase reactants, have both been monitored in patients suffering from hepatocellular diseases, compared with healthy subjects. Immunochemical findings, in hepatic amebiasis, revealed a higher incidence of increased alpha 1-GPA levels (86% of patients, as compared to 46% for CRP), whereas during liver primitive cancer and cirrhosis inverse pattern occurs. In viral chronic hepatitis, lesser perturbations were observed. In contrast, a simultaneous increase of both proteins is strong supporting evidence for the severity of disease with an unfavourable prognostic.

[Cryptosporidium and candida in pediatric diarrhea in Abidjan]. / Cryptosporidies et Candida dans les diarrhées infantiles a Abidjan.

In a study involving 104 children hospitalized with diarrhoea, 9% were infected with oocyst Cryptosporidium spp. add 56% with such yeast-fungus as Candida (C. Candida 38%). The manifestations noted in cryptosporidiosis infected children are acute diarrhea, vomiting and hyperthermia. One subject out of five who were tested for antibody to HIV appeared to be antibody positive. The patients immunity from the disease was not checked. A mycological test must be systematically carried out in case of children diarrheal outbreak.

[Epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in Ivory Coast]. / Epidémiologie de la toxoplasmose en Cote-d'Ivoire.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in samples of healthy populations in Ivory Coast. Various factors have been studied: age, sex, ethnic group, occupation, food, contacts with animals, climate. The samples were obtained in four places which were different by geographical situation and climate: Abidjan (urban site), Bonoua (littoral site), Bin-Houye (forest site), Odienne (predesert site). The samples of sera or blood were deposited on filter-papers and tested by latex agglutination (for IgG) and ISAGA (for IgM). Results were analysed by statistical methods. More than 2,000 samples have been studied, showing a prevalence higher in humid tropical zones (55.6% to 70%) than in predesert zone (37.2%). The first contact of the child with the parasite was more often before reaching 10 years but the risk for women was important until the age of 20. The other studied factors didn't appear to have any effect.

[A study in the Ivory Coast (1985-1987) of the efficacy and tolerance of ivermectin (Mectizan) in human onchocerciasis. I. A comparative double-blind study of 220 patients with onchocerciasis treated with a single oral dose of 100, 150 or 200 mcg/kg]. / Etude en Côte-d'Ivoire (1985-1987) de l'efficacité et de la tolérance de l'ivermectine (Mectizan) dans l'onchocercose humaine. I. Etude comparative en double insu de 220 sujets onchocerquiens traités par dose unique orale de 100, 150 ou 200 mcg/kg.

Two hundred and twenty adult males living in endemic onchocerciasis areas in Ivory Coast, with a mean of 59 to 64 mf/mg of skin microfilariae, having or not ocular lesions, were divided into 4 homogeneous groups and treated by placebo or by a single oral dose of 100, 150 or 200 mcg/kg of ivermectin. Parasitological, clinical, ophthalmological, biological data were gathered before treatment (J less than 1) and at day 4 and 3, 6, 12 months post treatment. The doses of 150 to 200 mcg/kg gave the best results with a reduction of microfilariae of 75 to 79% at day 4 and of 97 to 99% at 3 months. A slight increase appears at six months reaching to 10% of the initial level, at 12 months. These posologies reduce also the number of ocular microfilariae 12 months after treatment. The percentage of patients presenting microfilariae in the cornea varies from 4 to 14% according to the given dose whereas it was initially between 26 and 33%, and in the anterior chamber from 22 to 16% instead of 62 to 67%. In patients who were still positive after treatment the detected number of ocular microfilariae was very small. Side effects starting 12 to 24 hours after treatment are similar to those appearing during the normal evolution of onchocerciasis. They were observed in 36% of subjects receiving a placebo and 56 to 65% of treated subjects. Statistically they are neither correlated with the intensity of parasitism nor to the given posology and disappear spontaneously few days later or after administration of aspirin and/or antihistaminic. Ivermectin given at a single oral dosage of 150 to 200 mcg/kg is a powerful microfilaricidal drug with a rapid and prolonged action and without major side effects.

[A study in the Ivory Coast (1985-1987) of the efficacy and tolerance of ivermectin (Mectizan) in human onchocerciasis. II. Evaluation in the light of mass campaigns on the effect of yearly or half-yearly administration of single oral doses of 100, 150 or 200 mcg/kg]. / Etude en Cote-d'Ivoire (1985-1987) de l'efficacité et de la tolérance de l'ivermectine (Mectizan) dans l'onchocercose humaine. II. Evaluation, en vue de campagnes de masse, des effets de l'administration annuelle ou semestrielle de doses uniques orales de 100, 150 ou 200 mcg/kg.

One hundred and twenty patients out of 220 in a previous study were retreated after 6 months or one year with doses of 100, 150 or 200 mcg/kg of ivermectin. The tolerance was excellent due probably to the small number of skin microfilariae obtained with the first treatment. The annual treatment with 150 to 200 mcg/kg, better than with 100 mcg/kg, keeps for the year following the second treatment the microfilariae number between 6 and 11% of the initial level. The half-yearly administration keeps it between 1 and 7% and especially 94 to 100% of these retreated patients have a level of microfilariae less than 5 mf/mg. The results obtained with the half-yearly treatment show a considerable reduction of the number of microfilariae in the anterior chamber of the eye and the percentage of positive patients. Ivermectin is a very efficient microfilaricidal drug for the treatment of onchocerciasis and the prevention of ocular complications. Its rational use in mass campaigns should reduce, if not interrupt, the transmission of this parasitic disease.

[A study in the Ivory Coast (1985-1987) of the efficacy and tolerance of ivermectin (Mectizan) in human onchocerciasis. III. The tolerance and efficacy of a single oral dose of 150 mcg/kg in children]. / Etude en Cote-d'Ivoire (1985-1987) de l'efficacité de la tolérance de l'ivermectine (Mectizan) dans l'onchocercose humaine. III. Tolérance et efficacité d'une dose unique orale de 150 mcg/kg chez les enfants.

One hundred and three male and female children of 6 to 14 years old with onchocerciasis, having or not ocular involvement and a mean skin microfilariae level of 36.1 mf/mg, received, in October 1986, a single oral dose of 150 mcg/kg ivermectin and controlled at day 4, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months post treatment. After the last control they were retreated with the same dose. The skin microfilariae count fell down to 94% of the initial level at day 4 and to 99% at 3 months. At 6 months the microfilariae count was 2% of the initial level and 5% at 12 months. The percentage of patients having microfilariae in the anterior chamber of the eye which was 33% before treatment fell down to 6% at 12 months. The percentage of patients having microfilariae in the cornea was 39% before treatment and 18% at 12 months. In the cornea and anterior chamber there was a very reduced number of microfilariae still present. 65% of the children had lesions of keratitis before treatment and 34% two months later. Adverse effects (fever, headache, pruritus, oedemas, myalgias, arthralgias) occurred in 64% of children after the first treatment and 50% after the second. They were of weak or moderate intensity and receded rapidly after administration of aspirin and/or anti-histaminic. The administration of ivermectin is an efficient and well tolerated drug in children above 5 years old.