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Biomedical subjects

J C Petithory

Publications and source records attributed to J C Petithory.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Bowel parasites and faecal eosinophilia].

The staining of polynuclear eosinophils (PE) in the stools, easily performed and adapted from the technique of WHEATLEY, presents important advantages over the May-Grünwald-Giemsa: less colouring of the bacteria, no dissolution of the lipids, less importance of the stools pH. The stools samples must show mucus or have a soft, loose or liquid consistency: the polynuclear eosinophils are preserved in stools for 1 year and more, which allows if necessary to postpone for a few days the direct examination. The PE are found among patients having a helminthiasis or an intestinal coccidiosis in half of the cases, whereas they are not found in other intestinal protozoosis. They are also found among patients having an intestinal allergy. Faecal eosinophilia reveals an intestinal eosinophilia of the tissue and is influenced by several factors in particular: importance, duration, repetition of the infestation. It allows the observation of many elements related to the mechanism of eosinophilia, not to be found in blood eosinophilia, in particular the release of the eosinophil granule, the formation of Charcot-Leyden crystals and the presence of lipid bodies similar to those of stearrhoea.

Coccidiosis↗

[Malaria in splenectomized patients. Three fatal cases].

INTRODUCTION: Splenectomy, the surgical removal of the spleen, is increasingly practiced in malaria-endemic tropical countries. The procedure leaves patients more susceptible to serious bacterial and parasitic infections, including malaria. CASES: We report here three fatal cases of malaria from P. falciparum in splenectomized patients. One operation followed abdominal trauma, while the other two were performed to treat one large-cell and one B-cell lymphoma. Despite prolonged intravenous quinine treatment all three patients died. DISCUSSION: Malaria in splenectomized patients can be very serious and is fatal in half the cases transmitted by P. falciparum. Permanent chemoprophylaxis is required for these patients when they travel to or live in endemic areas.

Abdominal Injuries↗

[Triple malaria infection in twin sisters from the Democratic Republic of Congo].

Infections with 3 species of malaria parasites are rarely encountered and observed in less than 0.05% of cases. We came across such an infection in four year-old, monozygote twin sisters, coming from Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo). In both of them, parasitemia was low or very low for P. falciparum and P. ovale and of 0.1-0.2% for P. malariae. The twin sisters presented with an iron deficiency anaemia, associated with an heterozygous sickle-cell anaemia and a moderate splenomegaly. The biological tests results were similar. They responded well to treatment. We point out the difficulty in recognizing the concomitant presence of several species of hematozoaire on blood smear.

Anemia, Iron-Deficiency↗

Asymptomatic amoebic infection: Entamoeba histolytica or Entamoeba dispar? That is the question.

Two cases of amoebic infection were diagnosed in a heterosexual couple. The cases, a Frenchman with previous trips to various African countries and his sexual partner, a Cameroonese woman immigrant living outside the community, were both asymptomatic; the infection had been diagnosed by chance in the man at the time of his employment in a hospital kitchen. Based on what is known of the epidemiology of amoebic infection, it may be acquired and then transmitted within a couple via the indirect faecal-oral route or, in greater likelihood, by sexual practices. Both amoebic isolates were characterised by isoenzyme electrophoresis as non-pathogenic Entamoeba dispar, zymodemel. Other diagnostic tools, such as ELISA direct stool antigen detection tests and serological assays were employed, confirming the diagnosis of E. dispar infection. Given there are a number of asymptomatic cyst passers of Entamoeba histolytica, besides human carriers of saprophyte E. dispar, we stress the importance of applying, when possible, advanced protocols of diagnosis to distinguish the microscopically identical pathogenic species from the non-pathogenic one.

Animals↗

[Familial eosinophilia: contribution of parasitology to its diagnosis].

It has been observed, at the turn of the century, that members of some families showed a peripheral blood hypereosinophilia. Despite all possible investigations at that time, it was not possible to link it up with a known and well established disease. It was named "family acquired eosinophilia" by Di Guglielmo. nowadays, it has been established that some congenital defects such as the Omenn syndrome and the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome are associated with hypereosinophilia. Eosinophilia is well known as a sign of allergy, but contaminations with helminths are an important cause of familial hypereosinophilia. In a case of familial distomatosis by Fasciola hepatica, several members of the same family were infected after eating wild cress. An epidemiological study was carried out on 22 families whose several members in a same family had an hypereosinophilia, a parasitosis was serologically diagnosed using such methods as immunoelectrophoresis, Elisa or Western blot. Among these 22 families, 10 had contracted fascioliasis and 4 who had eaten contaminated horse meat contracted trichinosis. For some other families, eosinophilia was not well documented, it concerned cysticercosis for 3 couples after eating meat of raw pork, one family with intestinal distomatosis to F. buski after consumption of aquatic plants and lastly toxocarosis, zoonosis whose contamination is acquired by geophagy but also by eating raw vegetables (salad), fruit (strawberries) and by drinking contaminated water, affected 5 families. In one family, anisakiasis with hypereosinophilia had been contracted by eating raw fish. In another one, trichostrongyloidiasis was contracted by eating raw vegetables from the family garden. The diagnosis is often oriented, for the members of a same family, who are asymptomatic or pauci-symptomatic, by the blood cell count that shows an hypereosinophilia. Furthermore, a collective outbreak of strongyloidiasis epidemic among 115 individuals by oral route is reported, showing that such a way of transmission is possible.

Adolescent↗

[Apropos of 1 case of anisakiasis contracted in Sicily].

The authors describe a case of anisakiasis in Sicily. The diagnosis was based on the knowledge that a contaminated fish, Lepidopus caudatus, had probably been absorbed, as well as on clinical intestinal symptoms, intestinal lesions observed by endoscopy and O.G.D.S, duodenal infiltration by eosinophilic polymorphonuclear, positive ELISA anisakis serology and successful treatment by albendazole.

Animals↗

Microscopic diagnosis of blood parasites following a cytoconcentration technique.

An isotonic fixative (formalin and thimerosal) solution, with a saponin additive to lyse erythrocytes and platelets, has been developed. The formalin and thimerosal ensure good preservation of blood parasites. This fixative has led to the development of a new concentration technique using cytocentrifugation (cytospin) in the search for Plasmodium spp., Leishmania spp., and microfilariae, as well as leukocytes in which parasites or pigment may be present. The concentration of the parasites present in the sediment from 100 microl of blood spread on a 6-mm diameter circle results in good morphology that is well stained using the usual Giemsa or Wright techniques. This new technique has the advantage of a relatively low cost and offers the possibility of isolating and identifying in the same sediment the main blood-stage parasites, with the exception of young trophozoites, of Plasmodium falciparum.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Performance of European laboratories testing serum samples for Toxoplasma gondii.

One hundred twenty-nine European laboratories participated in a collaborative, multicentre study designed to evaluate the overall reliability of different serological techniques for diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection. Five freeze-dried reference sera were distributed to each laboratory, each of which analysed the sera with its routine methods. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was the technique used most frequently, followed by the immunofluorescent antibody technique. Only nine laboratories performed the Sabin-Feldman dye test. In general, there was good concordance between qualitative results, but for sera with low concentrations of Toxoplasma gondii-specific IgG antibodies, some false-negative results were found. For specific IgM and IgA antibodies, the immunosorbent agglutination assay proved the most sensitive. The present study demonstrates the need for regular assessment of laboratory serodiagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection.

Animals↗

Leishmaniasis in AIDS patients: results of leukocytoconcentration, a fast biological method of diagnosis.

Leukocytoconcentration is an easy, fast and inexpensive technique for the diagnosis of leishmaniasis from peripheral blood. The technique involves concentration of blood parasites on a small surface of a microscope slide while the red blood cells are removed by lysis. The results, compared with those of other methods (examination of cultures of blood samples and bone marrow smears), were very good and accurate. All but one of our cases of leishmaniasis were patients with HIV co-infection. Leukocytoconcentration facilitates follow-up of cases and fast detection of any relapse.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

[Serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis: a comparative multicenter study of a standard scale through various actual tests and expression of the results in international units. Groupe de travail toxoplasmose du Contrôle national de qualité en parasotologie. Syndicat des fabricants de réactifs de laboratoire. Groupe de travail standardisation des tests sérologiques du Réseau européen de lutte contre la toxoplasmose congénitale].

Reported are the results of a multicentre study involving 40 laboratories that was carried out in France to assess all the currently available methods used for the serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis. For this purpose 10 batches of control sera were prepared with titres in the range 0-260 IU per ml. These sera were tested in nine laboratories using immunofluorescence methods; in three laboratories using dye tests; in forty laboratories using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; in four laboratories using direct agglutination and haemagglutination; in seven laboratories using the high-sensitivity IgG agglutination test; and in three laboratories using the latex agglutination test. In this way, 70 series of titrations were carried out using seven procedures and the results were compared with those obtained using the WHO reference serum in 15 cases, with the French national E6 serum in 16 other cases, and in 39 cases using 15 reference sera supplied by the reagent manufacturers. Rigorous comparison of the tests was not possible in all cases because one aim of the study was to ensure that the tests were carried out under the usual working conditions that prevailed in the participating laboratories. The results obtained indicate that the serological tests currently available for toxoplasmosis are acceptable for its serodiagnosis. Presentation of the titres in IU has advantages; however, caution is required since the definition of IU varies according to the test and reagents used. It is therefore essential that the conditions and limits for a positive reaction be carefully defined in each case, especially for commercially available kits.

Agglutination Tests↗

Anisakidosis: report of 25 cases and review of the literature.

Anisakidosis (previously known as anisakiasis) is a disease caused by the accidental ingestion of larval nematodes (Anisakis and sometimes Pseudoterranova) in raw fish. Two groups of patients are studied: 5 clinical cases and 20 serological diagnoses. 55 French cases are already published. Most of them complained of acute symptoms, which occurred within 12 h of eating the seafood meal--epigastric pain, occlusion, diffuse abdominal pain, and appendicitis. Larvae were attached to the gastric mucosa (25 cases), including an inflammatory response (erythema, oedema ulceration). Diagnosis of anisakiasis is made by gastroscopy which allows removal of the worms, and cures the patients. In gastro-intestinal tract X-rays, oedema in the mucosa, pseudo tumour formation, and filling defects (worm) were observed. In chronic infections, cases with intermittent feelings of ill health and abdominal pain, lasting from several weeks to months, were misdiagnosed as another intestinal disease. Positive serological reactions are helpful, and surgery is necessary for resection of the lesion; diagnosis is made histologically by an eosinophilic granuloma, and the presence of a larva with Y shaped lateral cords. Infestation rate is high in fishes: cod (88%), rock fish (86%), herring (88%), salmon, mackerel. Public health education should discourage the eating of raw fish. Thorough cooking to 70 degrees C or adequate freezing to -20 degrees C for 72 h are the best preventive measures. Such legislation is only in force in the Netherlands, where cases have decreased dramatically.

Abdominal Pain↗

[On the discovery of the parasite of malaria by A. Laveran: Bône 1878 - Constantine 1880].

Books published on malaria and parasites do not mention the exact place and date of the discovery of the hematozoa. We think it is important to specify this point of the history of medicine. From Laveran's three main writings about this subject, the first one written on the 8th of November 1880 was summarized at the "Académy de Médecine" on the 23rd of November by Colin but never published. We got it from the archives. The parasite of malaria, Laveran's great discovery, was the result of a patient work and long microscopic examinations which started in Bône in 1878 where he first saw pigmented and crescent shaped bodies of Plasmodium falciparum. Then, on November 6, 1880 in Constantine, he was definitively convinced when he saw pigmented spherical bodies with flagella, that is to say exflaggelations. Nearly ten years passed before this etiology was universally admitted.

Algeria↗

[Study of 6 cases of malaria acquired near Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle in 1994. Necessary prevention measures in airports].

During the very hot 1994 summer, six new cases of airport malaria have been observed in and around Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport. Four patients were regular or occasional airport employees. The two other cases were inhabitants of a city at 7 km. Entomological investigations suggest that cars of airport employees served to disseminate anophelines outside the airport areas. The six cases were very severe. One patient died. Apparently, W.H.O. recommendations on aircraft disinsecting procedures have not been fully followed. There is obviously a threat for areas near the airports.

Adult↗

[Entamoeba histolytica (Schaudinn 1903) and Entamoeba dispar (E. Brumpt 1925) are 2 different species].

On the basis of epidemiologic and clinical data in humans, and of experimental studies in kittens, E. Brumpt in 1925 showed that Entamoeba histolytica producing quadrinucleate cysts was a complex of 2 species. He differentiated a pathogenic and invasive form, from a non pathogenic and non invasive one that he called Entamoeba dispar. His explanation gained little support until recently, when Sargeaunt reported a study of isoenzyme typing and allow then the classification of amoebae resembling E. histolytica in pathogenic and non pathogenic species. Monoclonal antibodies and PCR have recently been used and have shown to react specifically with the two forms of amoebae. Genetic evidence has also demonstrated that the pathogenic and non pathogenic amoebae represent different species.

Animals↗

[Ascaridiasis zoonoses: visceral larva migrans syndromes].

The syndrome of Visceral Larva Migrans is a zoonotic disease due to the migration in human of nematodes larval, specially ascarid. Since the larvae fail to complete their migrating cycle in humans, the diagnosis of Toxocariasis infection remains only serologic. We have been able to demonstrate by the technique of agar diffusion and the Western-blotting method that the etiology due to Toxocara canis was twice as much frequent as the one due to Toxocara cati in the syndrome of Visceral and Ocular Larva Migrans. The use of numerous antigens from adult nematodes, mainly Ascaris suum, has shown, than in France, in the syndrome of VLM at least 12% of the cases were certainly due to other nematodes. Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (or another similar nematode) of the rat might be responsible. The existence of numerous clinical and biological cases found negative in serology, allow us to suggest that some other larval nematodes, may be from wild animals, might play an etiological role.

Animals↗

[Multicenter study of toxoplasma serology using various commercial ELISA reagents. Work Group Toxoplasmosis of the National Agency for Quality Control in Parasitology].

A collaborative study conducted by the French National Agency for Quality Control in Parasitology (CNQP) and various manufacturers of ELISA kits, represented by the Association of Laboratory Reagent Manufacturers (SFRL) compared the toxoplasmosis IgG antibody titres obtained with different ELISA-IgG kits and determined the relationships between the titres obtained by these techniques and the titre defined in international units (IU). Fifty-one serum samples with toxoplasmosis antibody titres ranging from 0 to 900 IU were tested in two successive studies with 16 ELISA-IgG kits. For the negative sera, false-positive reactions were observed with one kit. For the positive sera, the titres observed in ELISA were generally higher than those expressed in IU. Above 250 IU, the very wide variability of the titres found with the different ELISA kits renders any comparative analysis impossible. For titres below 250 IU, the results are sufficiently homogeneous to permit the use of regression analysis to study how the results for each ELISA kit compare with the mean results for the other kits. The slope of the line of regression shows a tendency to over-titration or under-titration compared with the results of the other manufacturers; the ordinate at the origin reflects the positivity threshold of the reaction and can be used to assess the risk of a lack of sensitivity (high threshold) or of specificity (threshold too low). On the whole, the trends revealed for a given manufacturer are constant from one study to the other. Within this range of titres, regression analysis also reveals the general tendency of ELISA kits to overestimate the titres by comparison with immunofluorescence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗