[Myospherulosis: a riddle asked by strange bags of marbles. A report of four cases (author's transl)]. / La myosphérulose: une énigme posée par de curieux "sacs de billes" A propos de quatre observations.

Four cases of "myospherulosis" are presented with a review of the thirty cases previously reported in the litterature. The disease is characterized by clusters of spherules, surrounded by a thin membranous bag, within a multicystic reaction of muscular and subcutaneous tissue or of paranasal sinuses. The actual nature of these spherules still remains unknown. Several pathogenic hypothesis are suggested.

[Histological aspects of mycoses provoked by opportunistic fungi]. / Aspects histologiques des mycoses provoquées par les champignons opportunistes.

The histological study with Hotchkiss-Mc Manus staining and Grocott silver impregnation of tissues invaded by opportunistic fungi is a rapid and easy means of diagnosis. The inflammatory reactions around the fungus give the certitude that it is a pathogen and not a contaminant. The major opportunists among Canidida, Aspergillus, Mucor, Absidia and Cryptococcus species are presented in local and disseminated lesions, but all fungi, saprophytic in the normal host, can become pathogens in the immunodepressed patient.

[Cerebral mucormycosis in the cat caused by Mucor pusillus]. / Mucormycose cérébrale du chat due à Mucor pusillus.

The pathologic examination of the brain of a pet cat, suspected of rabies, showed lesions of mucormycosis. The causal fungus, Mucor (Rhizomucor) pusillus was isolated and identified. The authors describe the lesions produced, the experimental pathogenicity for the rabbit and the morphologic and physiologic characteristics of the isolate.

[Mycetoma in Somalia - results of a survey done from 1959 to 1964]. / Les mycétomes en Somalie - conclusions d'une enquête menée de 1959 à 1964.

The Pasteur Institute studied 103 mycetoma patients in Somalia between 1959 and 1964. Grains were seen in 94 of them and this, added to cultural features, allowed the diagnosis of 60 pathogens as follows: 44 Madurella mycetomi, 1 Leptosphaeria senegalensis, 7 Pyrenochaeta romeroi (or Madurella grisea), 3 Allescheria boydii, 1 Fusarium sp., 3 Neotestudina (Zopfia) rosatii, and 1 unidentified; 34 were actinomycetes: 24 Streptomyces somaliensis, 4 Actinomadura madurae, 3 A. pelletieri and 3 Nocardia spp. The patients delayed too long in consulting their doctors and health education is vital if amputations are to be avoided. The geographical distribution is related to climate and fungal species. In central Somalia the association of M. mycetomi and S. somaliensis, organisms characteristic of desert conditions, was found; white grain mycetomata and those caused by Nocardia spp. occurred in more humid areas. The study revealed 2 new fungi. One, obtained in culture was called Neotestudina (Zopfia) rosatii. The 3 patients affected, lived in Mudugh (2 in El Bur). The other fungus was not identified. It also was recovered from El Bur and one with similar microscopic characters has been seen in Chad and also in "territoire français des Afars et des Issas". Both fungi are desert species.

[Experimental infection of axenic mice by "Yersinia enterocolitica" (author's transl)]. / Infection expérimentale de souris axéniques par Yersinia enterocolitica

Although most of Yersinia enterocolitica strains isolated from man have no pathogenicity for laboratory animals, it has been demonstrated that some strains are pathogenic for conventional mice and that most of the strains are probably pathogenic for Nude mice. The authors report the results of the infection of germ-free mice with a strain of Y. enterocolitica which is non pathogenic for holoxenic mice. It appears that C3H/He mice are sensitive to the infection by gavage or aerogenic and peritoneal routes. They all die within 8 to 12 days after injection of an inoculum of 5.10(5) viable cells. Germ-free NCS mice were also sensitive to the oral and aerogenic infection but not to the peritoneal infection; the difference between C3H/He and NCS sensitivity to this way of infection could be explained by a higher bactericidal activity of the peritoneal phagocytes of the latter. The C3H/He and NCS holoxenic control mice infected with the same inoculum of the same strain, did not show any symptoms and all attempts to isolate Y. enterocolitica failed three months after the challenge. Germ-free mice killed by the infection showed histopathological findings, i.e. abscesses involving intestinal wall. liver and spleen; they were similar to those described in experiments with pathogenic strains for conventional mice (holoxenic) and to those observed in infection of athymic Nude mice with strains non pathogenic for conventional mice. This infectious disease model is discussed in regards to the natural human infection.

[Granulomas caused by animal parasites]. / Les granulomes provoqués par les parasites animaux

Numerous animal parasites, protozoan, metazoan and in particular helminths, may cause a varied range of granulomatous lesions in man. Study of two examples, the leishmaniasis granuloma and the schistomiasis granuloma, would appear to indicate that reactions between the host and the parasite at various stages of its development are dependent upon facilitation or rejection phenomena in which both humoral and cellular mechanisms are involved. The appearance of the granuloma thus depends upon the reactional possibilities of the host. The lesions seen in these granulomas may be related to a certain number of basic processes: phenomenon of necrosis, of fibrosis, specific or non-specific reactions and allergic reactions which are processes also seen under other aetiological circumstances. Certain of them, in particular giant cell or epithelio-giant cell reactions and the tissue eosinophilia associated with helminthic infestations, the role of which is not clearly known, are suggestive of a parasitic aetiology but are in no way pathognomonic. Thee demonstration and identification of the parasite, sometimes difficult or even impossible, should take into account the geographical and epidemiological context, as well as the localisation of the lesions, and often require the pathologist to study serial sections, with special stains. The timely aid of the parasitologist or immunologist is often essential to the aetiological diagnosis of the granuloma.

[Inflammatory granulomas of fungal origin]. / Les granulomes inflammatoires d'origine fongique

This trial on the histopathology of fungal granulomas was aimed at showing that fungi are good models for examination of variations in cellular participation in the inflammatory reactions which they provoke. Their presence stimulates activity of the entire leucocyte series and their tissular differentiations. They clearly demonstrate the association of capture phenomena with the polynuclears and macrophages as well as the humoral phenomena of immunity with the lympho-plasmocytes. Changes in the histiocytes are particularly remarkable in the mycoses and whilst the epithelioid cell found within tuberculoid structures seems, at least in part, to reflect a cutaneous hypersensitivity, the Virchow state corresponds to inhibition of the usual functions of lysis of pathogenic agents, resulting by contrast in undefined, intracellular multiplication of this agent, when cellular immunity cannot develop or has disappeared.

[10 new clinical cases of mycoses caused by Entomophorales in Cameroon]. / Dix nouvelles observations de mycose par entomophthorales au Cameroun

Authors describe ten new cases of Entomophthoromycosis in Cameroon. In four cases of subcutaneous phycomycosis, Basidiobolus meristoporus was isolated in one case. In six cases of rhino-entomophthoromycosis, we have obtained by culture two Basidiobolus meristoporus and one Entomophthora coronata. In Cameroon, rhino-entomophthoromycosis may be caused by the two species Basidiobolus meristoporus and Entomophthora coronata.

[Orbital localization of lymphocytic macrophagic histiocyosis (Rosai's sinusal histiocytosis]. / Localisation orbitaire de l'histiocytose macrophagique lymphocytaire. (Histiocytose sinusale de Rosai.)

The authors report the fifth case in the literature of an orbital presentation of macrophagic lymphocytic histiocytosis or sinusal histiocytosis. This disease which usually presents in the ganglia is accompanied by a characteristic histological appearance dominated by the taking up of blood cells (lymphocytes, plasmocytes, erythrocytes) by macrophages. Its evolution is benign but its aetiology remains unknown and its treatment uncertain.

[Histopathological study on the course of a dermatophytic disease]. / Etude histo-pathologique du déroulement d'une maladie dermatophytique

Histological study of cutaneous biopsies of an algerian girl with a "dermatophytic disease" (cf. supra Marill and al.). During the six first years of evolution diagnosis of mycosis had not been made for no specific fungus staining was done, but the fungus was present in the tissues. Vesicular forms and few filaments were seen in the first biopsies but polymorphism increased with the time and filaments became predominant and very abundant at the end of the disease.

[Experimental pathogenicity of "Yersinia enterocolitica" for athymic nude mice (author's transl)]. / Pouvoir pathogène expérimental de Yersinia enterocolitica chez la souris athymique (nude)

Amongst the 4,500 strains of our collection of Yersinia enterocolitica usually non-pathogenic for laboratory animals, 5 or 6 strains appeared to be naturally pathogenic for mice. Using these strains and non-pathogenic strains representing more than 90 per cent of human isolates in the world (biotype 4, serotype 0:3, phagocyte VIII; biotype 2, serotype 0:9, phagotype X3), the pathogenicity for cyclophosphamid treated mice and athymic Nude mice has been tested. Highly pathogenic strains killed conventional as well as cyclophosphamid treated mice. Non-pathogenic strains for conventional mice did not show any pathogenicity for cyclophosphamid treated mice (strain IP161 excepted) but killed 30 athymic Nude mice inoculated with 5 x 10(8) and 5 x 10(5) organisms by the oral or intraperitoneal routes. Nude mice infected intragastrically or intraperitoneally showed signs of enteritis and bronchopneumonia followed by a septicemia. Abscesses were found in the liver, the spleen and the ileal wall. The infection of Nude mice with Y. enterocolitica resembles naturally acquired human infection where 2/3 of the cases are enteritis among under 4-year-old children and where septicemia occurs among immunologically deficient adults. The role of T-lymphocytes and of immune functions in Y. enterocolitica infection is discussed through our model.

[Atypical conjunctival and tonsillar locations of malacoplakia]. / Localisations atypiques, conjonctivale et amygdalienne de la malakoplakie

Conjunctival and tonsillar sites for malakoplakia have never been previously described. The diagnosis in these presented cases has only been arrived at after elimination of mycosis and parasitic disease. The aetiology remains unknown and the pathophysiology is discussed.

Mummified cutaneous mixed tumor.

A 34-year-old man had an unusual mummified cutaneous mixed tumor that developed shortly after trauma. The apocrine type of tumor cells and pilar differentiation could explain the presence of mummification.

[Changes in the positive P.A.S. reaction of the cytoplasm of giant cells. Role of etiologic factors and the giant cell reaction]. / Variations du caractère A.P.S. positif du cytoplasme des cellules geantes. Rôle des facteurs étiologiques et de la réaction giganto-cellulaire

The search for alpha-amylase resistant, P.A.S. positive cytoplasm has been carried out in 206 giant cell lesions with or without specific inflammatory features and with neogenetic and degenerative plasmodia. It allowed to distinguish: --P.A.S. positivity in inflammatory cells of any nature, however with quantitative variations linked to etiologic factors (pathogen agent and disposition), to site, to the age of the plasmodia, and particularly, with negativation of the reaction in ancient lesions;--negativity of the neogenetic and degenerative plasmodia, save the giant cell articular lesions. Cells containing glycogen particularly (muscular tumors, renal or placental) are easily identified thanks to enzymatic digestion tests. Variations observed in the inflammatory cells seem to be the reflect of an active metabolism bringing about resorption phenomena but probably also immunization processes acting at the level of the cellular microenvironment.