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Echinococcosis disease shows clinical signs similar to many diseases. Hence we report cases that need to be confirmed using appropriate tests. A confirmatory study has been conducted to assess the accuracy of two cytopathological tests, with the histopathology test as the reference standard. The first cytopathological test evaluates the Ziehl Neelsen staining with an epifluorescence microscope (cytopath 1). The second cytopathological test uses the same staining followed by a transmitted light microscope examination (cytopath 2). Of a total of 2524 inspected pigs, 101 suspected cases of echinococcosis were detected, of which 67 were found positive with the two cytopathological tests and the histopathological one. The specificity of cytopath 1 (100 % [95 % CI 100 – 100]) and cytopath 2 (100 % [95 % CI 100;100]) were similar, as well as their respective positive predictive values: 100 % [95 % CI 100 – 100] vs. 100 % [95 % CI 100 – 100]. The sensitivity of cytopath 1 is 79.66 % [95 % CI 69.39 – 89.93], while cytopath 2 equals 66.10 % [95 % CI 54.02 – 78.18]. The difference in sensitivity of both tests was not significant. Negative predictive values found for cytopath 1, and cytopath 2 were 40 [95 % CI 18.53 – 61.47] and 28.57 [95 % CI 11.84 – 45.3], leading to the Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) Model estimate for an odds ratio of 1.4 [95 % CI 0.41 – 5.2], p = 0.06. Cytopath 1 and cytopath 2 are equivalent in terms of specificity (100 % [95 % CI 100 – 100] vs. 100 % [95 % CI 100;100]) and positive predictive value (100 % [95 % CI 100 – 100]. Cytopath 1 is more sensitive than cytopath 2 but not significant (79.66 % [ 95 % CI 69.39 – 89.93] vs. 66.10 % [95 % CI 54.02 – 78.18]). However, the negative predictive value of cytopath 1 is better than that of cytopath 2: 40 % [95 % CI 18.53 – 61.47] vs. 28.57 % [95 % CI 11.84 – 45.3]. more...

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological and clinical aspects as well as the therapeutic methods of mycetomical lesions., Material and Methods: This was a longitudinal retrospective study, which included all patients treated for mycetoma from January 2016 to December 2018 including two years of recruitment and one year of monitoring (2019). The study concerned 19 patients who were hospitalized and treated in the department of surgery., Results: Patients represented 2.3% of hospitalizations and consisted of 11 males and 8 females with an average age of 38 years with extremes of 15 - 70 years, and an average time between the onset of symptoms and presentation to the hospital of 10 years (range 1 - 40 years). Eight livestock breeders and seven farmers were concerned, 14 of whom have started the disease after trauma. The foot was involved in 13 patients. Twelve suffered from osteoarticular lesions. Black grains were present in 16 cases attributed to Madurella sp. We performed 12 amputations, six carcinological ablation to which specific local treatments were added (thin skin graft in two patients, fasciocutaneous flap in one patient and directed healing in the others) and local treatment in the last case., Conclusion: Mycetoma should be discussed and diagnosed at an early stage in predisposed patients particularly in farmers and breeders. Prevention is necessary; it is based on wound disinfection and wearing safety shoes., (Copyright © 2021 SFMTSI.) more...