Spawning behaviour of Allis shad Alosa alosa: new insights based on imaging sonar data.

Spawning behaviour of Alosa alosa was observed by high resolution imaging sonar. Detected clouds of sexual products and micro bubbles served as a potential indicator of spawning activity. Peak spawning time was between 0130 and 0200 hours at night. Increasing detections over three consecutive nights were consistent with sounds of mating events (bulls) assessed in hearing surveys in parallel to the hydro acoustic detection. In 70% of the analysed mating events there were no additional A. alosa joining the event whilst 70% of the mating events showed one or two A. alosa leaving the cloud. In 31% of the analysed mating events, however, three or more A. alosa were leaving the clouds, indicating that matings are not restricted to a pair. Imaging sonar is suitable for monitoring spawning activity and behaviour of anadromous clupeids in their spawning habitats.

Streptococcus milleri group infection associated with digestive fistula in patients with vascular graft: report of seven cases and review.

We described seven patients with Streptococcus milleri group aortic (six patients) or vena cava (one patient) graft infection secondary to a vasculo-digestive fistula. Time between vascular graft setting and first clinical signs varied from eight months to more than thirteen years. Six patients had fever. Three patients presented with recurrent fever for more than nine months and in two of these cases, delay before diagnosis was long because repeated blood cultures were sterile. Three patients had abdominal pain and/or digestive haemorrhage. Abdominal CT-scan S. milleri was not contributive for the diagnosis in four patients. Streptococcus anginosus was isolated in four patients, Streptococcus constellatus in three patients. One patient died before surgical management. The other six patients were cured by a surgical management associated with a prolonged antibiotic (lactams) treatment. S. milleri group graft infections are rare (or misdiagnosed) while we found only 4 similar cases in the English medical literature. We conclude that a peri-prosthetic infection secondary to a digestive fistula must be insistently searched (and blood cultures must be repeated many times) in any patient with an aortic (or any other vascular) graft presenting prolonged or recurrent fever or acute digestive symptoms.

[Bartonella endocarditis on native valves. Apropos of 2 cases]. / Endocardite a Bartonella sur valve native. A propos de 2 cas.

The authors report two cases of Bartonella endocarditis in native valves. The first case was a 15 year old North African Girl who lived in poor social conditions and was admitted to hospital with pyrexia and congestive heart failure. Investigations revealed massive mitral regurgitation due to ruptured chordae tendinae, vegetations on the pulmonary valve with severe pulmonary hypertension due to persistent ductus arteriosus. After antibiotic therapy, the patient underwent surgery for mitral valve replacement, pulmonary valvuloplasty and closure of the patent ductus arteriosus. The second case was a 39 year old man with no fixed abode with a history of alcoholism who presented with a recurrent ischaemic stroke in a context of infection with a murmur of aortic regurgitation. Echocardiography showed a vegetation on the aortic valve with grade III/IV regurgitation requiring aortic valve replacement with a homograft after antibiotic therapy. The aetiological diagnosis was made a posteriori by the finding of high antibody titres and specific genetic amplification of Bartonella. In patients with negative blood cultures, Bartonella infection should be looked for systematically especially in those living under poor social conditions. The practical diagnostic investigation of endocarditis with negative blood cultures is reviewed.

[Nocardia respiratory infection in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease]. / L'infection respiratoire à Nocardia chez les patients présentant une bronchopneumopathie chronique obstructive (BPCO).

Pulmonary nocardiosis is a respiratory infection which is usually described in the immunocompromised. We report three cases in patients suffering from chronic airflow obstruction. In two cases there was a parenchymal disorder and in one case bronchial suppuration without involvement of the alveolar region. The diagnosis was made in all cases by bacteriological examination from specimens obtained at fiberoptic bronchoscopy. The outcome was favourable in all three cases after appropriate treatment. These observations underline the diversity of the clinical forms of respiratory nocardiosis. Furthermore, it demonstrates their possible occurrence in non-immunocompromised patients and the need to look for this germ specifically in long drawn infections. A bacteriological diagnosis is vital to start early and appropriate antibiotic therapy which should be prolonged because of the risk of recurrence and disseminated infection.

[In vitro activity of twenty antibiotics against Rhodococcus equi]. / Activité in vitro de vingt antibiotiques sur Rhodococcus equi.

The in vitro susceptibility of nine Rhodococcus equi strains (seven isolates from immunocompromised patients mainly HIV positive and two reference strains) to twenty various antibiotics were assessed for bacteriostatic effects by an agar dilution method. Imipenem and ceftriaxone were the most effective of the beta-lactams studied. The lowest MIC were noted with vancomycin, teicoplanin, erythromycin, clarithromycin, rifampicin, gentamicin and doxycycline. A longitudinal survey, including three strains isolated from the same patient, showed the emergence of rifampicin resistance and a marked increase of the MIC to imipenem.

Adherence and hemagglutination of Corynebacterium group D2.

Sixty-one strains of Corynebacterium group D2 were examined for their ability to adhere to human uroepithelial cells and to agglutinate human and guinea-pig erythrocytes. Strains were isolated from samples of two origins: urine of bacteriuric patients and healthy skin of patients without urinary infection. In addition, the isolates were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Heavy adherence to the uroepithelial cells but weak hemagglutination were noted. No statistical association was demonstrated between the adherence and the origin of the strains (65.2% of urinary isolates and 80% of healthy skin isolates were adherent). On transmission electron microscopy, a close association was observed between adherent bacteria and cells on thin sections and only few strains were piliated with negative staining. These results do not support a role of adherence as a predictor of pathogenicity of Corynebacterium group D2 which seems to act as an opportunistic pathogen in urinary tract infections.

[Bactericidal effect of cefotaxime-sulbactam and imipenem combined with gentamicin and/or ciprofloxacin against CTX-1 producing Klebsiella pneumoniae]. / Activité bactéricide de céfotaxime-sulbactam et imipénème associés à gentamicine et/ou ciprofloxacine sur Klebsiella pneumoniae, produisant CTX-1.

Bactericidal activity of gentamicin, imipenem, ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime associated with sulbactam are studied on 36 beta lactamase CTX-1 (TEM-3) producing Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated of sputum samples and urines, among patients of intensive care units, in Rangueil hospital (Toulouse). Gentamicin, imipenem, cefotaxime associated with sulbactam have a bactericidal activity at serum levels, obtained with usual therapeutic doses. Ciprofloxacin has a bactericidal activity at concentrations obtained in urine and into lung tissue. Killing curve method was used to study bactericidal activity of these antibiotics alone and in combination, on a representative sample. Alone gentamicin showed the most rapid bactericidal activity (2 hours). The associations with gentamicin are also rapidly bactericidal. The associations with ciprofloxacin and imipenem, ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime/sulbactam are synergistic.

[Corynebacterium group D2. Clinical study, biochemical identification and antibiotic sensitivity]. / Corynebacterium groupe D2. Etude clinique, identification biochimique et sensibilité aux antibiotiques.

The comparative study of 44 isolates of Corynebacterium group D2, from urine, most frequently, shows the pathogenic role of these bacteria in urinary tract infection, with or without urinary stones. These microorganisms have an opportunistic behaviour in other non-urinary sites, and become pathogen in immunosuppressed conditions. The rapid tests as urease, glucose acidification, nitrate reductase, associated with multiple resistance to antibiotics (beta-lactams and aminosides) identify easily Corynebacterium group D2, from 48 h cultures under CO2 conditions. The results of MIC determination of 10 antibiotics, show the high activity (100% sensitivity) of vancomycin and pristinamycin, with MIC modes, respectively, 0.5 and 0.03 mg/l. These antibiotics are the most useful for the treatment of non-urinary infections. Among quinolones, the most active agents are ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin (MIC modes: 4 and 2 mg/l), so these antimicrobials could be used for the treatment of urinary tract infections caused by Corynebacterium group D2.