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A study of the cross-reactivity among somatic and excretory-secretory antigens of the third stage larvae of Anisakis simplex s.l. and somatic antigens of other ascarid nematodes (Ascaris lumbricoides, A. suum, Toxocara canis, Anisakis physeteris, Hysterothylacium aduncum and H. fabri) was carried out by immunoblotting. It was revealed a high degree of cross-reactivity among ascarids in the 30 and > 212 kDa range by using sera against somatic and excretory-secretory antigens of A. simplex s.l. It has been revealed also specific components of the Anisakis genus (< 7.2, 9, 19 and 25 kDa) that will be interesting in diagnosis.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to review the characteristics, causative bacteria, treatment and outcomes of brain abscesses due to anaerobes in our health setting., Methods: A retrospective analysis of all brain abscesses caused by anaerobic bacteria over the period 2005-2021 was performed., Results: Out of 300 brain abscesses identified during the study period, 31 were produced by anaerobic pathogens, either alone (monomicrobial infection) or together with aerobic and/or anaerobic bacteria (polymicrobial infection). The mean age of the 31 patients was 53 years, and 61.2% were male; 51.6% of infections were polymicrobial, with only four (12.9%) caused by anaerobic bacteria alone. Forty-three anaerobic bacteria were isolated: Cutibacterium acnes in thirteen (41.9%), Parvimonas micra in eight (25.8%), and Prevotella spp. in seven (22.5%). The most frequent etiologies were local neurosurgery (13/41.9%) and contiguous otogenic, oral, or sinus foci of infection (8/28.8%). Cancer was present in eight patients (28.8%), headaches in seventeen (54.8%), and fever in nine (28.8%). All patients received both surgery and antimicrobial therapy. The abscess was in the frontal region in 12 patients (38.7%) and in the parietal region in 11 (35.4%). A good outcome was obtained in all patients., Conclusions: Anaerobes were isolated in 10.3% of patients with brain abscesses in our health setting, similar to other reports. C. acnes was the most frequently detected anaerobe, especially in neurosurgical patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Alistipes spp is a genus of Gram-negative anaerobic rods involved in very few human diseases. We report the first case of abdominal infection due to Alistipes onderdonkii in a 58-year-old man with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He presented with abdominal pain and general malaise after retrogastric drainage for a pancreatitis episode a few days earlier. After the diagnosis of diffuse peritonitis with perforation and necrotizing pancreatic collection, abundant pancreatic fluid was drained and yielded the isolation of A. onderdonkii in pure culture. Resistance to penicillin and moxifloxacin was documented for this strain. Treatment with metronidazole was prescribed, and the patient was discharged after improvement of his general condition., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)