Search

Eighty-one of 449 Gabonese female patients examined were found to be positive for genitopubic white piedra. The association with trichobacteriosis is frequent (53 cases), and mostly seen with inguinal intertrigo. Fifty-two strains belonging to the genus Trichosporon were isolated from genital hairs as well as from inguinal intertrigo lesions. These strains were identified in accordance with previously defined morphological and biochemical criteria. Three species were recognized: T. mucoides (25 strains), T. inkin (20 strains) and T. asahii (seven strains). Their macroscopic and microscopic morphological properties, as well as their ability to reduce tetrazolium, were determined. In addition, the study of the clinical and pathogenic associations in which each of these strains was involved revealed some of their particular properties.

Fifty-two Trichosporon strains isolated from Gabonese female patients 15-60 years, were studied. The identity of these strains was established by two different methods: the method proposed by Guého et al. (1992), based on mycological criteria, and a slide agglutination method performed with monospecific antisera prepared in our laboratory. The final results show a perfect correlation between the two methods, which allowed us to identify 25 strains of T. mucoides, 21 strains of T. inkin and seven strains of T. asahii. The results of the agglutination tests performed with 24-h-old subcultures grown on Sabouraud glucose agar are available in less than 15 mins. In the light of these results, it appears that this method, which is rapid and easy to perform and reproduce, may readily be used in hospital laboratories. In addition, this method allowed us to verify the presence of antigens common to the genera Cryptococcus and Trichosporon, which were easily shown by the use of crude sera. The fact that the anti-Trichosporon monospecific sera lose their capacity to agglutinate Cryptococcus neoformans proves their high specificity.

In Dipetalonema viteae filariasis of Cricetus auratus, it seems that the natural estrogenic hormon, the 17 beta-estradiol as well as the progesterone have a part in the protection observed in the females.

After a review of the mechanisms of anti-schistosomal activity of praziquantel and the treatment of Schistosoma mekongi with this drug, the authors report two cases of Schistosoma mekongi treated with praziquantel with failure. Rectal mucosa biopsies are performed and eggs are present. Light microscopic, electron microscopic and on ultra-thin sections examination of these samples don't reveal morphological alterations of Schistosoma mekongi eggs after treatment.

Within the framework of previous investigations concerning the protective effect of estrogens during an experimental infection with Schistosoma mansoni in female hamster, the respective actions of the cis and trans forms of clomiphene have been studied. These two forms appear to be unable to assure a protective effect, the mean numbers of parasitic worms and the seric specific antibodies levels which have been observed in the treated animals do not significantly differ from those of the control group.

We describe here an experiment, the results of which confirm the protecting effect of hormone oestrogen during an experimental infection with Schistosoma mansoni in golden female hamster. Furthermore this experiment shows that the hormone oestrogene does not modify the sex-ratio of the worms.

First cases of Schistosomiasis in the South East Asian were described 30 years ago but the existence of a particular species in this area: Schistosoma mekongi has been discussed for a long time. During the last few years, emigration of Laotian and Cambodian people allowed a better knowledge of this affection. Through recent literature the authors make a restatement of the epidemiology, biology and treatment of this disease.

According to some of our experiments, in adult Schistosoma mansoni, the existence of receptors able to bind the molecules of 17 beta-estradiol might explain the protective power of this hormone in the experimental Schistosoma mansoni parasitosis in the mice and in the hamster.

A parasitological and immuno-hematological study was undertaken simultaneously in fifty South-East asian refugees at the time of their arrival in France. --in this series the frequency of individuals having a P2 erythrocyte phenotype is 80%. --54 % of these immigrants were found to be carriers of Clonorchis sinensis, a parasite rarely found in Europe. --in 40,7 % of these subjects infested by Clonorchis sinensis, the following properties were disclosed concerning the P1 allo-antibody: slow-P1 red cell agglutination at 22 degrees C, no hemolysis of P1 red cells in vitro, IgM antibody, in weak titers. The immuno-hematological study of the immuno-serums with respect to distomian antigens coupled with adsorption-elution using P1+++ red cells shows a close immunological relationship between the antibody of parasite origin and the anti-P1 allo-antibody.

Forty refugees (23 from 5 lao families and 17 from 3 cambodian families) previously and routinely treated against intestinal parasites, underwent stools and serum controls: 77 p. 100 had still intestinal parasites but 61 p. 100 had a normal blood cells count without hypereosinophilia. The parasites so detected were: Clonorchis sinensis, Heterophyes heterophyes, Trichuris trichiura, Necator americanus, Strongyloides stercoralis, Giardia intestinals and Entamoeba coli.

When administered in pellet form of 20 mg to castrated Golden female hamsters, testosterone leads to a decrease of the intensity of experimental infestation with Schistosoma mansoni. The same result is obtained when estradiol is used in place of testosterone under the same conditions. On the contrary, no statiscally significant decrease has been observed with progesterone.

A reduction in the intensity of parasitism under the effect of an implantation of 20 mg of estradiol is observed again but such result is also obtained with testostérone administered in the same way and at the same dose. On the other hand, no significant variation in the number of parasites was observed in animals having received an implantation of 20 mg of progesterone. However, serological examinations showed that the animals treated with one of these hormones all have a specific antibody level higher than the untreated control group. Finally, it is impossible to establish a relationship between level of serum antibodies and the number of parasites.

During experimental tissular amibiasis, the level of circulating antibodies, as detected by indirect immunofluorescence, is lower in female castrated golden hamsters who have been implanted with a pellet of oestradiol than in castrated control animals. Antibodies are first detected in the serum twenty four hours after infestation and their level becomes maximal near the fourteenth day.

Transfusional malaria is an unusual disease. Any fever, happening immediately after blood transfusions must evoke this diagnosis, confirmed by parasites detection in the blood. The treatment is rapidly efficacious. The prophylaxis is at the present time insufficient and would require fluorescent antibody test generalization.

The authors have studied the influence of the sex of the host on experimental Dipetalonema viteae parasitosis in golden hamsters Cricetus auratus. The parasited hamsters are sacrificed fifteen days after testing for microfilarial count, and then the extent of the infestation is measured by counting the number of male worms and female worms. The average level of microfilarial count is significantly higher in male hamsters than in female hamsters. The same applies to the extent of parasitism: the average number of adult worms is higher when parasitosis occurs in males. However, the sex of the hamster has no influence on the proportion of male and female worms present and the degree of microfilarial count, observed in male hamsters seems to result only from the presence in the same of a greater number of worms.

In the purpose of establishing if the antiestrogens may inhib the protective effects of the estrogens during an experimental infection with Schistosoma mansoni in golden female hamster, we have studied the following estrogen-anti-estrogen associations: 17 beta-estradiol + trans-tamoxifène, 17 beta-estradiol + trans-clomifène, hexestrol + trans-tamoxifène. The decrease of the number of worms in the animals under experiment shows that these associations still give a protective effect. This protection is however weaker than the one which is induced by estrogens administration only. The interpretation of these results agree with the intervention of an estrogen receptor.