Temporal and spatial patterns of Trichuris trichiura eggs: a potential threat to human health in Pakistan.

This study investigates the presence of Trichuris trichiura eggs in soil samples collected from urban areas in Lahore, Pakistan. A total of 3600 soil samples were collected over two years from Lahore's urban regions. The detection of helminth eggs in these samples was performed using sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) as a diagnostic technique. The study reveals an overall prevalence rate of T. trichiura at 0.97 % (35 out of 3600) in the contaminated soil samples from Lahore's slum areas. When analyzing the data by geographical areas, the study found the highest prevalence of T. trichiura in Allama Iqbal Town (1.83 %, 11 out of 600), followed by Samanabad (1.16 %, 7 out of 600), Wapda Town (1.00 %, 6 out of 600), Gulberg (1.00 %, 6 out of 600), and Cantt (0.50 %, 3 out of 600). Conversely, Valencia Town had the lowest prevalence rate at 0.33 % (2 out of 600). However, these variations in prevalence rates were not statistically significant (p = 0.117). Prevalence rates of T. trichiura's eggs varied significantly across different sampling seasons (p>0.001). In autumn, a total of 900 soil samples were collected, with 19 samples (2.11 %) testing positive for T. trichiura. This rate was notably higher compared to the prevalence rates observed in winter, spring, and summer, which were 0.66 %, 0.22 %, and 0.88 %, respectively. Regarding the sampling months, the study observed a significantly higher prevalence during September (3.33 %, 10 out of 300), followed by October (2.33 %, 7 out of 300), and August (1.33 %, 4 out of 300). Prevalence rates gradually decreased in other months, ranging from 1 % to 0.33 % (3 to 1 out of 300), with no parasite detection in March (0 %, 0 out of 300) (p < 0.001). This research underscores soil contamination due to fecal waste and highlights public unawareness of parasite biology, driven by open defecation practices.

Relationship Between Phenotypic and Genotypic Characteristics of Trichophyton mentagrophytes Strains Isolated from Patients with Dermatophytosis.

According to epidemiological, clinical and mycological criteria, it has long been admitted that the Trichophyton mentagrophytes species includes two varieties: a zoophilic variety (var. mentagrophytes) and an anthropophilic variety (var. interdigitale) that involve the upper and the lower part of the body, respectively. The further application of molecular techniques to the characterization of dermatophyte strains showed that this classification is unreliable. The aim of our study was to assess the usefulness of PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) and sequencing in the characterization of T. mentagrophytes strains taken from Tunisian patients. The study was carried out in 2008 in the laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology of Farhat Hached University Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia. A total of 133 strains were isolated from 133 patients addressed to the laboratory for dermatological lesions very evocative of dermatomycosis. Eighty strains were isolated from lesions located on the lower part of the body (onychomycosis, tinea pedis) and 53 strains from the upper part of the body (tinea capitis, tinea corporis). All strains were submitted to mycological examination (direct microscopic examination and culture on Sabouraud medium) and further investigated by using RFLP analysis of the PCR-amplified ITS1-5.8 s-ITS2 region of the ribosomal DNA and the MvaI restriction enzyme. In addition, 62 strains were further submitted to a sequencing of the ITS1-5.8 s-ITS2 region. On the basis of mycological criteria, all strains were diagnosed as T. mentagrophytes. All strains produced the same RFLP pattern and were identified as T. mentagrophytes interdigitale regardless of the location of lesions. Out of the 62 sequenced strains, 16 were found anthropophilic and 46 were zoophilic. In conclusion, all strains provisionally diagnosed as T. mentagrophytes on the basis of mycological criteria were shown to belong to T. interdigitale by using PCR-RFLP and sequencing irrespective of the site of lesions. The predominance of zoophilic strains needs further investigation.

Genetic characterization and antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bovine milk in Tunisia.

Staphylococcus aureus is a major agent of bovine mastitis in dairy herds, causing economic losses in dairy industry worldwide. In addition, milk and milk-products contaminated by Staph. aureus can cause harmful human diseases. The aim of this study was to characterize Staph. aureus strains isolated from dairy farms in Tunisia. Bulk tank milk (n = 32) and individual cow milk (n = 130) samples were collected during the period of 2013-2014. Forty-three Staph. aureus isolates were recovered and typed by spa typing, 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer (RS-PCR) and multiplex PCRs for 22 virulence genes. Antimicrobial resistance was also investigated with a disc diffusion test. A selected subsample of 22 strains was additionally genotyped by multilocus sequence typing. Seventeen spa types were recovered, and t2421 (n = 10), t521 (n = 6) and t2112 (n = 5) were the most common. Fourteen different RS-PCR genotypes grouped into 11 clusters were detected in our study, with predominance of the RVI genotype (n = 24). Eight sequence types were identified and Clonal Complex 97, corresponding to RS-PCR cluster R, was the most common (n = 10), followed by CC1 (n = 4), CC15 (n = 3) and other four accounting for one or two strains. Different combinations of virulence genes were reported, and enterotoxin genes were present in few strains (seh, n = 4; sea, n = 2; sea and seh, n = 2; sec and sel, n = 2). The majority of strains were resistant only to penicillin; only one strain was found to be multiresistant and no methicillin-resistant Staph. aureus was demonstrated. Our study reported the isolation of CC97 from bovine milk in Tunisia for the first time and confirmed the relevance of this lineage in intramammary infection in cows. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This paper describes the characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bulk tank and individual cow milk in Tunisia. All strains were genotyped by spa typing and RS-PCR, a method based on the amplification of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region, and multiplex PCRs for 22 virulence genes. A selected subsample of strains was also genotyped by multilocus sequence typing. All strains were tested for antimicrobial resistance. Our study evidences a predominance of strains belonging to Clonal Complex 97. Methicillin-resistant strains were not detected, and overall low level of antimicrobial resistance was reported.

[Clinical and biological features of patients with essential thrombocythaemia according to their mutational status JAK2 or CALR: Single-center study of 40 patients and review of the literature]. / Caractéristiques clinico-biologiques des patients avec thrombocytémie essentielle en fonction de leur statut mutationnel JAK2 ou CALR : étude monocentrique de 40 patients et revue de la littérature.

BACKGROUND: Somatic mutations in the calreticulin gene (CALR) were recently described in essential thrombocythemia (ET) and primary myelofibrosis with non-mutated JAK2 or MPL. The aim of this single-center study was to compare the clinical and biological features of ET patients according to their mutational status. METHODS: We included 40 patients with ET followed in hematology consultation. The JAK2 V617F mutation was assessed by quantitative PCR. For the detection of CALR mutations, we performed a PCR amplification of CALR exon 9 followed by direct sequencing. RESULTS: Among 40 study patients, 23 (57.5%) harbored V617F JAK2, 12 of the 17 patients without JAK2 mutation harbored CALR, no patient expressed MPL mutation and 5 were negative for all three mutations. Five types of mutations were identified with predominance of 52bp deletion and 5bp insertion (7/12 and 2/12 respectively). The incidence of thrombotic events at diagnosis was significantly higher in JAK2 mutated patients (P<0.05). Biologically, patients with CALR mutation had significantly higher platelet count (P<0.01) and significantly lower hemoglobin level (P<0.05) than those with V617F JAK2 mutation. CONCLUSION: JAK2 and CALR mutation screening in ET has a diagnostic value. Each mutation displays a distinct phenotype with uncertain impact on long-term outcome.

Identification of soluble and membrane antigenic markers of acquired toxoplasmosis by immunoblot.

The overall performance of quantitative assays in the detection of anti-Toxoplasma IgG is satisfactory, but discrepancies between assays are not uncommon especially when IgG concentrations are close to the limit of detection of the tests. The purpose of our study was to identify soluble and membrane antigens extracted from Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites by immunoblot to select the most relevant antigenic bands to be used for qualitative serodiagnosis of acquired toxoplasmosis. We selected five relevant bands (98, 36, 33, 32 and 21 kDa) with soluble antigens and four relevant bands (42, 35, 32 and 30 kDa) with membrane antigens which gave high sensitivity and/or specificity in immunodiagnosis. The association on the same blot of at least three of the five relevant bands in the soluble antigen immunoblot showed the highest sensitivity/specificity (97.4%/99.0%, respectively). Our results indicate that immunoblot using soluble tachyzoite extract with simultaneous detection of at least three of the five bands (98, 36, 33, 32 and 21 kDa) represents a valuable test for serodiagnosis of acquired toxoplasmosis and should be further evaluated as a confirmatory test for sera which give discrepant results in quantitative assays.

Assessment of Babesia spp. prevalence in various domestic animals across Southern Punjab, Pakistan.

Parasitic diseases, notably babesiosis, exert a substantial impact on the global cattle industry, posing challenges to commerce, economies, and human health. This study, conducted in Southern Punjab, Pakistan, aimed to assess the prevalence of Babesia spp. across various livestock species using microscopic and PCR methods. A total of 180 blood samples (60 from each district) were systematically collected from apparently healthy animals, with 36 samples obtained from each domestic animal species, including camel, cattle, buffalo, goat, and sheep, noting that 12 samples were collected from each district for each animal species. Overall prevalence was determined to be 32.8% (59/180), with varying rates among species: 25.0% in cattle, 41.66% in buffalo, 30.55% in goats, 33.3% in sheep, and 33.3% in camels. Microscopic examination revealed slightly varied infection rates among large and small domestic animals (22.2%), while PCR results indicated a 32.8% overall infection rate in both large and small domestic animals, with no statistical significance. District-wise analysis showed regional variations, with Muzaffargarh recording a prevalence rate of 23.33% through microscopic examination, while Lodhran and Bahawalpur recorded 21.67%. PCR results revealed higher rates (38.33%, 26.67%, and 33.33%, respectively), underlining the importance of employing PCR for accurate detection. Examining ruminant types, large ruminants exhibited a 32.4% infection rate, while small domestic animals showed 33.3%, with no significant difference (p=0.897). District-wise prevalence showcased significant variation, with Muzaffargarh demonstrating a 25% prevalence, Lodhran 22%, and Bahawalpur 22%, through microscopic examination. PCR results displayed 38.33%, 27%, and 33.3%, respectively, with no statistical significance. Detailed analysis of individual districts highlighted variations in infection rates among camels, cattle, buffalo, goats, and sheep. The binomial test indicated significant differences through microscopic analysis (P=0.011) but non-significant variations through PCR (P=0.065), emphasizing the precision of PCR. Regional variations in prevalence, notably with Punjab exhibiting the highest frequency (33.87%) and KPK the lowest (13.24%), suggest potential influences from varying veterinary practices and environmental factors. This study underscores the pivotal role of PCR alongside microscopy for accurate babesiosis diagnosis. These findings contribute to the broader understanding of babesiosis prevalence, emphasizing the necessity of advanced molecular techniques for informed control measures.

Molecular methods for strain typing of Candida albicans: a review.

Candida albicans is one of the most medically important fungi because of its high frequency as a commensal and pathogenic microorganism causing superficial as well as invasive infections. Strain typing and delineation of the species are essential for understanding its biology, epidemiology and population structure. A wide range of molecular techniques have been used for this purpose including non-DNA-based methods (multi-locus enzyme electrophoresis), conventional DNA-based methods (electrophoretic karyotyping, random amplified polymorphic DNA, amplified fragment length polymorphism, restriction enzyme analysis with and without hybridization, rep-PCR) and DNA-based methods called exact typing methods because they generate unambiguous and highly reproducible typing data (including microsatellite length polymorphism and multi-locus sequence typing). In this review, the main molecular methods used for C. albicans strain typing are summarized, and their advantages and limitations are discussed with regard to their discriminatory power, reproducibility, cost and ease of performance.

Molecular epidemiology, associated risk factors, and phylogeny of Theileria annulata infecting buffaloes and cattle from different agro-climatic regions of Punjab, Pakistan.

Background: Tropical theileriosis is the most prevalent hemoprotozoan disease in Pakistan. Aims: The study aimed to investigate the epidemiology and evolutionary relationship of Theileria annulata in bovines in diverse agro-climatic regions of Punjab, Pakistan. Methods: 800 blood specimens were collected from asymptomatic cattle (n=480) and buffaloes (n=320) using a multistage sampling method from Sargodha (n=400) and Multan (n=400) districts. The samples were assessed for blood smear microscopy and cytochrome b gene based PCR. Twenty samples were collected from each union council of each district. Results: The overall prevalence of T. annulata infection in bovines was 9% and 17.13% as determined by blood smear analysis and PCR, respectively. The disease positivity in cattle and buffaloes was respectively 10.21% and 20.42% by blood smear screening and 7.19%, 12.19% by PCR. The overall PCR based prevalence in the Sargodha and Multan districts was 19% and 15.25%, respectively. Absence of rural poultry, tick infestation, and a history of tick-borne diseases had significant effect in cattle. Tick infestation and age were the main statistically significant disease determinants in buffaloes. The evolutionary analysis of the cytochrome b gene showed that the Pakistani isolate infecting buffalo was related to those from Iran, India, Egypt, and Sudan. The isolate from cattle was genetically close to those from Pakistan, India, Iran, Iraq, and Turkey. Conclusion: It can be concluded that biotic and abiotic factors contribute to disease occurrence. The current study will help to devise control strategies to prevent substantial economic losses.

Neonatal invasive candidiasis in Tunisian hospital: incidence, risk factors, distribution of species and antifungal susceptibility.

The aim of our study was to assess epidemiological features of neonatal invasive candidiasis in Farhat Hached hospital of Sousse, Tunisia, including incidence, risk factors, mortality, species distribution and antifungal susceptibility. Laboratory data from 1995 to 2010 and medical records of 127 invasive candidiasis cases were reviewed. We tested the susceptibility of 100 Candida sp isolates by using ATB fungus(®) 3 and to fluconazole by using E-test(®) strips. A total of 252 cases of neonatal invasive candidiasis occurred over the study period. The incidence increased 1.8-fold from 1995 to 2006 and decreased fourfold from 2007 to 2010. Candida albicans was the predominant species up to 2006 and a shift in the species spectrum was observed with increase of the non-albicans species mainly C. parapsilosis. The agreement between the ATB Fungus(®) and the E-test(®) for determining fluconazole susceptibility was high. All tested isolates were susceptible to fluconazole, flucytosine, amphotéricine B and voriconazole and the itraconazole resistance rate was 5%. The mortality rate was 63%. The invasive candidiasis incidence increased from 1995 to 2006 and decreased from 2007 to 2010. The spectrum of Candida species and the lack of fluconazole-resistant strains argue for the usefulness of fluconazole as an empiric treatment.

[Evaluation of the immunoblotting for the detection of immunoglobulin G Toxoplasma antibodies in immunocompetent patients]. / Apport de l'immunoblot dans la détection des IgG anti-toxoplasmiques chez le sujet immunocompétent.

UNLABELLED: The serological tests commonly used for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis raise the problem of the interpretation of the borderline immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels and discordant results between various tests. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the contribution of the immunoblotting in the detection of specific IgG in acquired toxoplasmosis of immunocompetent patients especially when levels are equivocal or discordant in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Elisa) and indirect fluorescent antigen test (IFAT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: [corrected] We tested three groups of sera. The first included 87 positive sera, the second 33 negative sera, and the last one 29 equivocal sera. RESULTS: Results obtained with the first and the second group of sera led us to identify the bands 30kDa and 32kDa as markers of the toxoplasmic infection. The simultaneous presence of both bands showed a sensitivity of 91.5%, a specificity of 96.9%, a VPP of 98.7%, a VPN of 74.4% and a Youden's index of 0.88. Our findings suggest that the presence of these two bands is a reliable criterion for the confirmation of the presence of anti-toxoplasmic IgG in the corresponding serum. The immunoblot allowed us to ascertain serological status of 27 (93.1%) patients from the third group in which results were discrepant or equivocal in Elisa and/or in IFAT. CONCLUSION: Immunoblot is a useful serological test for detection of very low or equivocal titers.

Asymptomatic carriage of Leishmania in family members of patients with visceral leishmaniasis in Central Tunisia.

INTRODUCTION: In Tunisia, asymptomatic carriage of Leishmania is poorly documented. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to estimate the frequency of asymptomatic infection among the family members of patients with patent visceral leishmaniasis by using the Western blotting kit based on 14 and 16kDa bands. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We tested 94 sera collected from 24 patients with patent visceral leishmaniasis and 70 from their families' members. RESULTS: The rate of seropositivity was 100% in the group of patients and 54.3% in the group of families' members. The analysis of the Western blotting patterns showed that the 33kDa, 24kDa and to a lesser extent the 22kDa band were very indicative of patent visceral leishmaniasis in contrast to asymptomatic infection where these bands were very rarely detected. CONCLUSION: The results reported herein showed the high frequency of asymptomatic carriers of Leishmania among the families' members of visceral leishmaniasis cases and the usefulness of the Western blotting as a screening technique and in distinguishing between patent visceral leishmaniasis and the asymptomatic carriage of Leishmania.

Molecular typing of Candida albicans isolates from patients and health care workers in a neonatal intensive care unit.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic relatedness between Candida albicans isolates and to assess their nosocomial origin and the likeliness of cross-transmission between health care workers (HCWs) and hospitalized neonates in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 82 isolates obtained from 40 neonates and seven isolates from onychomycosis of the fingers of five HCWs in a Tunisian NICU by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis with CA1 and CA2 as primers. RESULTS: In RAPD analysis, the discriminatory power (DP) of CA1 and CA2 primers was 0·86 and 0·81, respectively. A higher DP was achieved by combining patterns generated by both primers (0·92), while PFGE karyotyping exhibited the lowest DP (0·62). The RAPD-CA1/CA2 analysis revealed that 65·8% of isolates obtained from neonates derived from a limited number (6) of groups of genetically identical strains, that five temporal clusterings occurred during the study period and that three HCWs' isolates and 11 isolates obtained from six neonates were identical. CONCLUSIONS: These findings argue for the nosocomial transmission of C. albicans in our NICU and for the transfer of strains from HCWs to patients. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Identification of relatedness between Candida species obtained from neonates and health care workers by using molecular techniques with high discriminatory power is essential for setting up specific control measures in order to reduce the incidence of nosocomial candidiasis.

[Mycological and epidemiological aspects of tinea capitis in the Sousse region of Tunisia]. / Aspects mycologiques et épidémiologiques des teignes du cuir chevelu dans la région de Sousse (Tunisie).

AIM: Tinea capitis continues to be considered a public health problem in Tunisia. The purpose of our study was to investigate trends in the incidence and the mycological and epidemiological aspects of tinea capitis in the Sousse region (Central Tunisia). METHOD: Our work is a retrospective study concerning all scalp samples taken by the parasitology laboratory of the Farhat Hached Hospital in Sousse, Tunisia, over a 26-year period (1983-2008). RESULTS: A total of 10,505 specimens were examined. Of these, 5593 were positive with positive direct examination and/or positive culture. The average incidence was 215 cases per year. Patients were aged under 12 years in 89.3% of cases. A total of 175 cases of tinea capitis in adults were diagnosed. Ten dermatophyte species were isolated: Trichophyton (T.) violaceum (66.7%), Microsporum (M.) canis (29.3%), T. schoenleinii (1.6%), T. mentagrophytes (1.1%), T. verrucosum (0.6%), T. tonsurans (0.2%), T. rubrum (0.2%), M. gypseum (0.1%), M. audouinii (0.03%) and M. nanum (0.01%). CONCLUSION: Our study showed a decrease in the annual incidence of tinea capitis over the study period with an evident decrease in trichophytic tinea and disappearance of favus giving way to microsporic and inflammatory tinea.

Serological and molecular surveys of Anaplasma spp. in Egyptian cattle reveal high A. marginale infection prevalence.

BACKGROUND: Bovine anaplasmosis is an infectious disease with worldwide distribution. It spreads by various routes mainly through tick bites. AIMS: This study aimed to investigate bovine related Anaplasma spp. in cattle from three northern governorates of Egypt by serological and molecular assays, to evaluate the associated risk factors and to analyze the phylogeny of revealed A. marginale isolates. METHODS: During 2020, a total of 650 blood samples were collected from asymptomatic cattle in the governorates of Kafr El-Sheikh (n=240), Menofia (n=230), and Al-Gharbia (n=180). Sera samples were examined using the Anaplasma antibody test kit, cELISA v2. Blood genomic DNA of seropositive cattle was then examined by PCRs specific to A. marginale, A. centrale, and A. bovis. Selected positive samples were subjected to nucleotide sequencing. Risk factors (i.e. geographical area, breed, type of production, sex, age, herd size, season, husbandry system, tick infestation, and application of acaricides) were evaluated by logistic regression approach. RESULTS: In total, 130 cattle (20%, 95% CI: 17.1-23.3) were recorded seropositive for Anaplasma species. Major risk factors associated with seropositivity were being crossbred, dairy cattle, aged more than 5 years, summer season, herd size of below 300, pasture grazing, tick infestation, and not being subjected to regular treatment with acaricides. By using species-specific PCR, only A. marginale was detected. Nucleotide sequencing showed the occurrence of two different msp4 genotypes. CONCLUSION: This study shows the high prevalence of A. marginale in cattle of Kafr El-Sheikh, Al-Gharbia, and Menofia. However, the connection between Anaplasma species and their tick vectors remains unknown in Egypt and merits further investigations. Since these infections primarily spread through ixodid tick bites, effective ectoparasite control strategies, regular examination of cattle and successful chemoprophylaxis are recommended.

Systemic neonatal candidosis: the karyotyping of Candida albicans strains isolated from neonates and health-workers.

Candida albicans has become an important cause of nosocomial infections in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The aim of the present study was to compare C. albicans strains isolated from neonates (NN) suffering from systemic candidosis and from nurses in order to determine the relatedness between NN and health workers' strains. Thirty-one C. albicans strains were isolated from 18 NN admitted to the NICU of the neonatology service of Farhat Hached Hospital of Sousse, Tunisia and suffering from systemic candidosis, together with five strains recovered from nurses suffering from C. albicans onychomycosis. Two additional strains were tested, one from an adult patient who developed a systemic candidosis and the second from an adult with inguinal intertrigo. All strains were karyotyped by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) with a CHEF-DR II system. Analysis of PFGE patterns yielded by the 38 strains tested led to the identification of three pulsotypes that were designated I, II and III, and consisted of six chromosomal bands with a size ranging from 700 to >2500 kbp. The most widespread was the pulsotype I, which was shared by 17 NN and the five nurses' strains. The identity between NN and nurses' strains is very suggestive of a nosocomial acquisition from health-workers.

Molecular typing of clinical Candida strains using random amplified polymorphic DNA and contour-clamped homogenous electric fields electrophoresis.

AIMS: This report describes an investigation into the genetic profiles of 38 Candida albicans and 19 Candida glabrata strains collected from a dental hospital of Monastir (Tunisia) and the Laboratory of Parasitology, Farhat Hached Hospital of Sousse (Tunisia), using two typing methods: random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and contour-clamped homogenous electric fields (CHEF). METHODS AND RESULTS: The two methods (RAPD and CHEF electrophoresis) were able to identify clonal-related isolates from different patients. RAPD method using two primers (CA1 and CA2) exhibited the highest discriminatory power by discriminating 22 genotypes for C. albicans with CA1 oligonucleotides and 19 genotypes with CA2 primer. For C. glabrata, 17 genotypes were obtained when both primers CA1 and CA2 were combined. The CHEF karyotyping of C. albicans has discriminated only 17 different karyotypes. CONCLUSION: The genotype of each isolate and genotypic difference among C. albicans and C. glabrata isolates were patient specific and not associated with the site of infection, geographic origin or date of isolation. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Identification of relatedness between Candida species using molecular approaches with high discriminatory power is important in determining adequate measures for interruption of transmission of this yeast.

Evidence of natural infections with Trypanosoma, Anaplasma and Babesia spp. in military livestock from Tunisia.

Livestock constitute habitual hosts and carriers for several infectious pathogens which may represent a serious public health concern affecting the readiness of military forces and lead to wide economic losses. The present report aimed to investigate the prevalence of some haemopathogens infecting military livestock, particularly, dromedaries, sheep and horses using Giemsa-stained blood smears. A total of 300 animals (100 from each species) were selected, clinically examined and sampled. Trypanosoma spp. (22.0%), Anaplasma spp. (17.0%) and Babesia spp. (1.0%) were identified in camels' blood. Six dromedaries were found to be co-infected by Trypanosoma and Anaplasma organisms (6.0%). Camels of female gender, infested by ticks and showing clinical signs were statistically more infected by Trypanosoma spp., compared to those of male gender, free of ticks and apparently healthy (P= 0.027, 0.000 and 0.004, respectively). Babesia spp. infection (1.0%) was identified, for the first time in Tunisia, in one adult female camel that presented abortion and anemia. Anaplasma spp. was the only haemopathogen identified in examined sheep (6.0%) and horses (17.0%). Horses infested by Hippobosca equina flies and sheep infested by Rhipicephalus turanicus ticks were more infected by Anaplasma spp. than other non-infested animals (P=0.046 and 0.042, respectively). Hyalomma dromedarii, H. impeltatum and H. excavatum were the most prevalent diagnosed ticks removed from camels with an intensity of infestation of 1.2 ticks per animal. However, in sheep, only R. turanicus was identified. H. equina and Tabanus spp. were the potential hematophagous flies found in dromedaries and horses herds. This useful data must be taken into consideration during animal treatment and vectors' control programs in Tunisian military farms which help to limit the diffusion of vector-borne diseases, keep our livestock healthy and reduce economic losses.

Antibodies to anionic phospholipids and cofactors in kala-azar. Comparative study with malaria, toxoplasmosis and "autoimmune diseases".

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the distribution of various anti-anionic and anti-cofactor phospholipid antibodies in children with kala-azar, and to compare them to malaria, toxoplasmosis and auto-immune disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The frequency and the concentration of antibodies against cardiolipin (aCL), phosphatidylserine (aPS), phosphatidylinositol (aPI), phosphatidic acid (aPA), Beta2GPI (anti-Beta2GPI), prothrombin (aPT), annexin V (aAnnV), protein C (aPnC) and protein S (aPnS) were studied in sera from 103 children with kala-azar and compared with malaria (n=32), toxoplasmosis (n=31), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (n=40) and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) (n=35). RESULTS: The prevalence of aCL, aPS, aPI, aPA, anti-Beta2GPI, aPT, aAnnV, aPnC and aPnS was 54%, 56%, 43%, 28%, 73%, 67%, 55%, 30%, 25%, respectively. Ninety-three per cent of children with kala-azar (96/103) had one or more aPL specificities, but none had thromboses. The spectrum of aPL was quite similar to that found in patients with SLE and APS. CONCLUSION: Antiphospholipid antibodies are a frequent finding in kala-azar. The aPL produced mimic those found in autoimmune disease. However, further studies are required to assess the exact role of these aPL during leishmaniasis.

Aspergillus mastoiditis with intact tympanic membrane in immunocompetent host.

Aspergillus mastoiditis is a very rare condition usually observed in immunocompromised patients. Masked mastoiditis is defined as a subclinical infectious inflammatory process of the mucosal lining and bony structures of the mastoid air cells with intact tympanic membranes. To our knowledge, our report of a masked Aspergillus mastoiditis occurring in a 71-year-old diabetic woman is only the second case of masked mastoiditis in the literature. Aggressive medical and surgical management are necessary to avoid a fatal outcome from this invasive infection.