Distribution of G (VP7) and P (VP4) genotypes of group A bovine rotaviruses from Tunisian calves with diarrhoea.

AIMS: To investigate the incidence, viral load and genetic diversity of bovine rotaviruses strains in Tunisia. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 169 faecal specimens, collected from diarrhoeic calves from several farms located in the central eastern regions of Tunisia, between January 2006 and October 2010, were analysed by semi-nested multiplex RT-PCRs for P and G genotypes identification or were genotyped by DNA sequencing. Positive samples were tested by TaqMan real-time RT-PCR to quantify the viral load. Group A bovine rotaviruses were detected in 15·4% (26/169) of the total studied cases of diarrhoea. Overall, G10 was the predominant G type, detected in 12/26 samples (46·2%) and G6 accounted for 42·3% (11/26) while P[11] was the predominant P type, detected in 12/26 samples (46·2%). Two P[5] genotypes (7·7%) were found in the collection. Dual G or P combination and genotype G8 were not found. The most common VP7/VP4 combinations were G6P[11] (30·8%; n = 8) and G10P[11] (11·5%; n = 3). The combination G10P[14] was seen in one sample, and partial typing was assessed in 53·8% (n = 14) of the cases. The viral load determined by real-time RT-PCR showed an average of 1·68 × 10(9) genome copies/g of faeces. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of P and G types could help us understand the relatedness of animal rotaviruses to viruses causing disease in humans. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first time that the viral load and P types of bovine rotaviruses have been determined in Tunisia, and this study contributes to a better understanding of the epidemiology of such viruses circulating in Tunisia. Nevertheless, continuous surveillance is necessary to detect the emergence of new variants.

Ochratoxin A levels in human serum and foods from nephropathy patients in Tunisia: where are you now?

Ochratoxin A is a natural mycotoxin with nephrotoxic properties that can contaminate food products. It has been detected in high amount in human serum collected from nephropathy patients, especially those categorized as having a chronic interstitial nephropathy of unknown etiology. In the present study, ochratoxin A levels were measured in commonly consumed food items and in serum samples from nephropathy and healthy subjects in Tunisia. To assess ochratoxin A, a high performance liquid chromatography method was optimized. The ochratoxin A assay showed very different scales of ochratoxin A serum and food contamination from 0.12 to 1.5 ng/mL and 0.11 to 6.1 ng/g respectively, and in healthy subjects and 0.11 to 33.8 ng/g for food and 0.12 to 3.8 ng/mL for serum in nephropathy patients suffering from chronic interstitial nephropathy of unknown etiology. The disease seems related to ochratoxin A serum levels and food contaminations, since the healthy group was significantly different from the nephropathy group (P<0.001) for both food and serum ochratoxin A contamination. Those results combined with data published already, emphasize the likely endemic aspect of ochratoxin A-related nephropathy occurring in Tunisia.

[CRP and micro-albumin: new markers of cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes]. / CRP et micro-albuminurie : nouveaux marqueurs du risque cardiovasculaire chez les diabétiques de type 2.

INTRODUCTION: Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease associated to the presence of multiple risk factors. Among recently studied factors we cite PCR and micro-albumin. OBJECTIVE: In the present study we intend to determine the correlation between urine albumin excretion rate, CRP levels and type of vascular complications in type 2 diabetes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We recruited 48 type 2 diabetic subjects subdivided into three groups according to the type of vascular complications (GI: type 2 diabetics without complications, GII: type 2 diabetics with microvascular complications and GIII: type 2 diabetics with macrovascular complications). RESULTS: We found a significant elevated levels of CRP and micro-albumin (P<0.05) when we compared diabetics with vascular complications to those without any complications. Diabetics with macrovascular complications have the highest levels of CRP and micro-albumin. Significant positive correlation was found between CRP and micro-albumin levels in a total group of diabetics (r=0.32; P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The determination of CRP and microalbumin levels represents an interest in the screening of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetics.

Total homocysteine levels and cardiovascular risk factors in healthy Tunisians.

Hyperhomocysteinaemia is considered as an important independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and thrombotic disease. This study determined the distribution of homocysteine (Hcy) levels in healthy Tunisian subjects and evaluated the relationship between Hcy levels and some cardiovascular risk factors. Randomly selected subjects (592 men and 114 women) were recruited from different regions of Tunisia. The overall mean Hcy level was 12.6 (SD 5.4) micromol/L. Hcy levels in subjects with hyperhomocysteinaemia varied according to geographical region. Subjects with hyperhomocysteinaemia had significantly elevated total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein A and apolipoprotein B and lower vitamin B12 levels compared with subjects with normohomocysteinaemia. Hcy levels correlated with total cholesterol (r = 0.09), apolipoprotein A (r = 0.012), and B (r= 0.013) levels and total/HDL cholesterol ratio (r = -0.085). Further epidemiological studies are needed to determine the precise role of Hcy in cardiovascular disease.

Total homocysteine levels and cardiovascular risk factors in healthy Tunisians

Hyperhomocysteinaemia is considered as an important independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and thrombotic disease. This study determined the distribution of homocysteine [Hcy] levels in healthy Tunisian subjects and evaluated the relationship between Hcy levels and some cardiovascular risk factors. Randomly selected subjects [592 men and 114 women] were recruited from different regions of Tunisia. The overall mean Hcy level was 12.6 [SD 5.4] micromol/L. Hcy levels in subjects with hyperhomocysteinaemia varied according to geographical region. Subjects with hyperhomocysteinaemia had significantly elevated total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein A and apolipoprotein B and lower vitamin B[12] levels compared with subjects with normohomocysteinaemia. Hey levels correlated with total cholesterol [r= 0.09], apolipoprotein A [r = 0.012], and B [r= 0.013] levels and total/HDL cholesterol ratio [r- =0.085]. Further epidemiological studies are needed to determine the precise role of Hcy in cardiovascular disease

First molecular detection of Aichi virus in sewage and shellfish samples in the Monastir region of Tunisia.

The aims of our investigations were (1) to look for Aichi virus in environmental samples and (2) to compare the Aichi virus strains in both clinical and environmental samples in order to evaluate the role of environmental contamination as a possible vehicle for viral transmission. Aichi virus was detected in 15 (6%) sewage samples and in 4 (6.6%) shellfish samples. Aichi virus was identified for the first time in water samples. Phylogenetic analysis revealed several clusters that occurred sequentially in time, suggesting some parallelism in the evolution of environmental and human strains. Aichi virus present in sewage reflects the viruses circulating in the community.

Detection and molecular characterization of enteric viruses in environmental samples in Monastir, Tunisia between January 2003 and April 2007.

AIMS: A prospective study was performed to characterize the main human enteric viruses able to persist in sewage samples and in shellfish tissues, and to establish the correlation between environmental strains and viral infantile diarrhoea observed in the same area during the same period. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 250 sewage (raw and treated) and 60 shellfish samples were collected between January 2003 and April 2007 in Monastir region, Tunisia. Group A rotavirus (RVA) was detected in 80 (32%) sewage samples, norovirus (NoV) in 11 (4·4%) and enteric adenovirus (AdV) in 1 (0·4%). Among 60 shellfish samples collected near sewage effluents, one was contaminated by NoV (1·6%). CONCLUSION: Our data represent the first documentation in Tunisia, combining gastroenteritis viruses circulating in the environment and in clinical isolates. We observed a correlation between environmental strains and those found in children suffering from gastroenteritis during the same period study. This suggests the existence of a relationship between water contamination and paediatric diarrhoea. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Our results address the potential health risks associated with transmission of human enteric viruses through water-related environmental routes. The research findings will aid in elucidating the molecular epidemiology and circulation of enteric viruses in Tunisia and in Africa, where data are rare.

Serum levels of ochratoxin A in healthy subjects and in nephropathic patients in Tunisia.

Ochratoxin A is a fungal toxin produced by Aspergillus and Penicillinium. These Fungi oftenly contaminate plant-derived products, and can generate deleterious toxic effects in man. In this study, ochratoxin A was determined in human serum samples collected in Tunisia, using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and fluorescence detection. The samples were collected from healthy subjects (n = 105) as well as from patients with various kidney disorders. Five different kinds of kidney disorders were represented: transplanted subjects (27), patients with Chronic Interstitial Nephropathy (22) of known etiology, Chronic Vascular Nephropathy (26), Chronic Glomerular Nephropathy (26) or Chronic Interstitial Nephropathy (30) of unknown etiology. Mean concentrations of ochratoxin A in the healthy group was 0.49+/-0.79 ng/mL. The highest mean concentration of ochratoxin A was found in group of Chronic Interstitial Nephropathy of unknown etiology 1.25+/-1.22 ng/mL. Significant differences were also observed according to the geographic origin of healthy subjects and nephropthic patients within Tunisia.

[Procalcitonin in invasive candidosis]. / Procalcitonine et candidoses invasives en milieu de réanimation.

The use of reliable and specific diagnosis tools in patients of intensive care unit constitutes the best way to follow up these patients and to take charge of severe infections. It is in the context that the measuring of procalcitonin should be considered in order to prove its role in invasive candidosis. This prospective study included 52 patients from an intensive care unit. Blood samples for serum procalcitonin were drawn on days 1, 3, 5. Our results showed that on the one hand, procalcitonin levels have significantly increased in cases of confirmed and probable candidosis. On the other hand, this parameter has a certain prognosis value. In conclusion, an increase in procalcitonin level does not only imply a bacterial infection but it should also evoke a case of invasive candidosis especially in intensive care units.

[Consequences of insulin resistance on lipid profile in type2 diabetics group: study of 118 cases]. / Conséquences de l'insulinorésistance sur le bilan lipidique chez un groupe de diabétiques de type 2: à propos de 118 cas.

Insulin is a hormone which has an essential role in lipids metabolism by modulating the activity of many key enzymes and by its intervention on the production and the catabolism of lipoproteins. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of insulin resistance on lipid profile in a diabetic group. The study group consists of 118 diabetic patients. We assayed for each patient total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides and insulin. Insulin resistance was determined by HOMA index. Insulin was found correlated to body mass index, triglycerides, waist circumference, and glycated haemoglobin. Triglycerides and glycated haemoglobin were significantly more elevated in insulin resistant group than in insulin sensitive group. Insulin resistance may be the initial anomaly in type 2 diabetes and incite us to search on molecular anomalies in the insulin action.