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PubMed1997

Molecular fingerprinting of Mycobacterium tuberculosis on a Caribbean island with IS6110 and DRr probes.

Because of a substantial increase in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and HIV-linked tuberculosis in the Caribbean, a molecular fingerprinting study of clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated at the Pasteur Institute of Guadeloupe from 1994 to 1995 was undertaken with the insertion sequence IS6110 and the direct repeat DRr probes. We present the results for 72 isolates from 51 patients. A major cluster (cluster A) representing isolates from 12 patients (24%) was detected upon PvuII-IS6110 fingerprinting, which revealed a pattern of four bands among these isolates. Homogeneity was retained when the isolates were further analyzed with the DRr probe or further characterized by AluI and SmaI-DRr restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The isolates of cluster A, from 10 men and 2 women, was present in people of all ages and of different ethnic and geographical backgrounds, and infection with these isolates was independent of the HIV status of the patients (except for 2 HIV-positive patients from the same ward from whom the tubercle bacilli were isolated at the same time). The percentage of reactivation versus active transmission events could not be precisely determined in this study. These results are discussed on the basis of the genetic advantage of predominant clusters and/or specific characteristics of the settings from which a similar cluster of isolates with four bands has so far been reported, which include South Africa, French Polynesia, and Guadeloupe.

DNA Fingerprinting↗
PubMed1988

Prevalence of asthma among teenagers attending school in Tahiti.

The prevalence of asthma was studied in 6731 adolescents (average age 13.5 years, 48.6% boys) attending school in three towns of the isle of Tahiti, according to the ethnic origin of both parents. The pupils completed a self-administered questionnaire in class; 14.3% gave an affirmative answer to the question "Have you ever had attacks of asthma?" (cumulative prevalence). That prevalence was 11.4% in the Europeans, 13.7% in the Chinese, 13.8% in the Polynesians, 15.3% in those whose parents were "halves" (half-bred from Polynesians and Europeans), and 16.0% in the miscellaneous group (= other origins) (P less than 0.02). Asthma was significantly more frequent in boys only among the Europeans and those with one European parent. The results of this study confirm the high prevalence of asthma in French Polynesia found in a previous study. They give no evidence of a racial difference in prevalence but suggest an influence of environment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Photoreception in the planktonic larvae of two species of pullosquilla, a lysiosquilloid stomatopod crustacean

Optical microscopy, electron microscopy and microspectrophotometry were used to characterize pigments in the eyes of planktonic larvae of two species of the lysiosquilloid stomatopod Pullosquilla, P. litoralis and P. thomassini, which live sympatrically in French Polynesia. In contrast to the adult retina, which contains a diverse assortment of visual pigments in the main rhabdoms, the principal photoreceptors throughout the larval eyes of both species were found to contain a single rhodopsin with an absorption maximum ( max) close to 446 nm. The expression of this visual pigment may survive metamorphosis, since several adult rhodopsins occur at a similar spectral position. The retinas of these planktonic larvae also contain a novel yellow photostable pigment, which is arrayed in a regular pattern at the distal margin of the larval retina. The absorption spectrum of this pigment is well matched to the larval rhodopsin, suggesting that it acts to screen the rhabdoms from stray light. By replacing opaque, black screening pigment, the transparent yellow pigment may act together with a blue iridescent layer in the larval retina to reduce the visual contrast of the larval eye against downwelling and sidewelling light, while simultaneously acting as a retinal screen.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1987

Prevalence of asthma in adolescents in various parts of France and its relationship to respiratory allergic manifestations.

Six studies have been carried out in France and French Polynesia to investigate the prevalence of asthma in adolescents attending secondary school and in Paris university students (68,179 subjects overall). All the studies used the same questionnaire, self-administered in the classroom, and interviews administered to students during the university's preventive medicine examination. An epidemiologic definition of asthma was considered an affirmative answer to the question, "Have you ever had attacks of asthma?" The prevalence of asthma ranged from 4 to 12 percent, most often higher in boys with a tendency to increase with age. The relationship between asthma and other allergic respiratory conditions was studied. Some recommendations are made here to improve the validity of data and to increase knowledge about the etiology of asthma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Observations on the phylogeny of Opisthadena Linton, 1910 and related genera (Hemiuridae: Opisthadeninae) from Australian and French Polynesian waters.

Mitrostoma nototheniae Manter, 1954 is redescribed from Aplodactylus arctidens Richardson, off northern Tasmania. Opisthadena dimidia Linton, 1910 is reported from Kyphosus bigibbus Lacepède, Ningaloo, Western Australia, K. cinerascens (Forsskål), off Heron Island and Ningaloo, Western Australia, Kyphosus cornelii (Whitley), off Kalbarri, Western Australia, K. sydneyanus Günther, off Fremantle, Western Australia, K. sydneyanus ?, Ningaloo, Western Australia and K. vaigiensis (Quoy et Gaimard), off Heron and Lizard Islands, Queensland and Moorea, French Polynesia: measurements and an illustration are given. Neopisthadena habei Machida, 1980 is reported from K. sydneyanus off Fremantle, Western Australia: measurements and an illustration are given. Data derived from these specimens are used to recode a data-matrix developed by León-Règagnon et al. (1996), and the resultant tree produced is almost congruent with that of these authors. Our data indicate that this group of parasites is associated mostly with herbivorous hosts and that O. dimidia, while geographically widespread, is stenoxenic to the genus Kyphosus.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Molecular identification key for pest species of Scirtothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae).

Effective plant quarantine and biological control initiatives require rapid and accurate identification of exotic and potentially invasive taxa that may cause high economic losses or environmental damage. The genus Scirtothrips Shull includes several species that are serious agricultural pests, and, because of their minute size and cryptic behavior, prone to undetected transport through international trade of plant material. Although assigning specimens to the genus Scirtothrips is straightforward using traditional taxonomic methods, identification of species is much more difficult and requires expert knowledge of the genus. Furthermore, the validity of some Scirtothrips species is questionable. Therefore, an easy, accurate, and highly reliable technique is desirable for Scirtothrips identification. Here, we provide a simple molecular key based on the internal transcribed spacer regions 1 and 2 (ITS1 and ITS2) of nuclear ribosomal DNA. Individual specimens can be identified by amplification of their ITS1 and ITS2 regions with general primers and determining the size of the products by using standard agarose gel electrophoresis, followed in some instances by DNA digestion with the restriction enzymes SacII or PspOM I. The advantage of this identification system is that nonspecialists are able to quickly and cheaply identify individual specimens. Material analyzed for this work was collected in the United States (California), India, South Africa, Kenya, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Australia, New Zealand and Raiatea (Society Islands French Polynesia). We have identified seven pest species with the molecular-based methods described here. It is hoped that this system can be extended to other members of the genus as their ITS1 and ITS2 sequences become available. We also provide molecular confirmation for two new Scirtothrips species, one species from Honduras and one species from New Zealand.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Evaluation of insecticide impregnated baits for control of mosquito larvae in land crab burrows on French Polynesian atolls.

Land crab burrows are larval mosquito habitats of major significance in the Pacific region. They are constituted by a sinuous tunnel leading to a chamber in contact with the water table, where mosquito larvae proliferate. Controlling larvae in these sites is difficult, because the configuration of burrows prevents the use of standard techniques. An experiment was carried out in French Polynesia to control Aedes polynesiensis Marks and Culex spp. breeding in burrows of the land crab Cardisoma carnifex (Herbst). The technique was based on the crab's behavior, which involves the crab carrying food into its burrow. It was shown that appetizing baits impregnated with an insecticide were carried by crabs into the flooded chamber of their burrows. A field treatment of burrows was carried out by sowing insecticide impregnated baits on the ground. The treatment coverage was almost perfect and the easy implementation of the technique enabled large areas to be treated in a short time. The bait was developed by compacting various flours, which easily incorporate a large variety of insecticide formulations. Although the baits can be easily stocked, a reliable insecticide is still to be found. The results indicate that our technique could be a method of choice for treating crab burrows.

Aedes↗
PubMed2004

Five new species of Pedibothrium (Tetraphyllidea: Onchobothriidae) from the tawny nurse shark, Nebrius ferrugineus, in the Pacific Ocean.

The spiral intestines of 7 Tawny nurse sharks (Nebrius ferrugineus; Rhincodontidae) from Australia and French Polynesia were examined for tapeworms. These sharks hosted 5 new species of Pedibothrium. The 5 species were prepared for light and scanning electron microscopy. Whereas 3 of the species exhibit the bipronged hooks typical of members of Pedibothrium, 1 species was found to possess tiny unipronged hooks or to lack some, or all, hooks, and all individuals of the fifth species appeared to lack bothridial hooks entirely. Nonetheless, the otherwise remarkable similarities between these species and the species of Pedibothrium bearing bipronged hooks were considered to be sufficient to justify the placement of these 2 species in this genus. All 5 species possess proglottid features typical of Pedibothrium, including a uterus that extends anteriorly only to the level of the cirrus sac and a cirrus sac that is bent anteriorly and is crossed by the vagina. All 5 species also exhibit uniloculated bothridia. Of particular note was the fact that all 5 species exhibit bladelike spinitrichs with elongated distal tips, a form of microthrix currently known only from species of Pedibothrium. As a consequence, these species were treated as possessing modified hooks or as having lost hooks. The diagnoses of Pedibothrium and Onchobothriidae were emended to include these species. Each of the 5 new species bears a strong resemblance to 1 or more species of Pedibothrium hosted by a species of rhincodontid shark other than N. ferrugineus. Much of Southwell's type and voucher material of Pedibothrium was located and used to verify the identity of Pedibothrium kerkhami and many of the hosts from which Southwell's material of Pedibothrium was collected. This material suggests that P. kerkhami parasitizes Stegostoma fasciatum and not N. ferrugineus.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Dactylogyrids (Platyhelminthes: Monogenoidea) parasitizing butterfly fishes (Teleostei: Chaetodontidae) from the coral reefs of Palau, Moorea, Wallis, New Caledonia, and Australia: species of Euryhaliotrematoides n. gen. and Aliatrema n. gen.

Seven species of Euryhaliotrematoides n. gen. and 1 species of Aliatrema n. gen. (Monogenoidea; Dactylogyridae) are described and reported from the gills of 15 species of butterfly fishes (Chaetodontidae) from the coral reefs of Moorea (French Polynesia), Wallis (Wallis and Futuna), Heron and Lizard (Australia), Palau (Micronesia), and New Caledonia: Aliatrema cribbi n. sp. from Chaetodon auriga, Chaetodon lunula, Chaetodon trifasciatus, Chaetodon ulietensis, Chaetodon vagabundus, Forcipiger flavisissimus, and Heniochus chrysostomus; Euryhaliotrematoides annulocirrus n. comb. from C. auriga, C. lunula, and C. vagabundus; Euryhaliotrematoides aspistis n. sp. from C. auriga, Chaetodon citrinellus, C. lunula, Chaetodon reticulatus, C. ulietensis, and C. vagabundus; Euryhaliotrematoides berenguelae n. sp. from C. citrinellus, Chaetodon ornatissimus, and F. flavisissimus; Euryhaliotrematoides grandis n. comb. from C. auriga, C. citrinellus, Chaetodon ephippium, Chaetodon kleinii, Chaetodon lineolatus, C. lunula, C. ornatissimus, C. trifasciatus, C. vagabundus, and H. chrysostomus; Euryhaliotrematoides microphallus n. comb. from C. auriga, C. citrinellus, C. ephippium, C. kleinii, C. lunula, C. ornatissimus, C. reticulatus, Chaetodon trifascialis, C. trifasciatus, C. vagabundus, F. flavisissimus, and H. chrysostomus; Euryhaliotrematoides pirulum n. sp. from C. auriga, C. citrinellus, C. lunula, C. trifasciatus, and C. vagabundus; and Euryhaliotrematoides triangulovagina n. comb. from C. auriga, C. citrinellus, C. kleinii, C. lunula, C. ornatissimus, C. vagabundus, F. flavisissimus, H. chrysostomus, and Hemitaurichthys polylepis. All reports of previously described species are new locality records. With exceptions of E. grandis and E. annulocirrus on C. auriga and C. lunula and E. triangulovagina and E. microphallus on C. auriga, all reports are new host records. Haliotrema hainanensis and H. affinis are considered junior subjective synonyms of E. triangulovagina and E. annulocirrus, respectively. Aliatrema n. gen. is characterized by marine dactylogyrids with tandem gonads (germarium pretesticular), haptoral hooks with upright acute thumbs, a coiled copulatory organ with counterclockwise rings and funnel-shaped base but lacking an accessory piece, and a dextral vaginal pore. Euryhaliotrematoides n. gen. is characterized by marine dactylogyrids having tandem gonads (germarium pretesticular), haptoral hooks with upright acute thumbs, a coiled copulatory organ with counterclockwise rings and funnel-shaped base, a vas deferens looping the left intestinal cecum, and a dextral vaginal pore.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Dengue fever, Hawaii, 2001-2002.

Autochthonous dengue infections were last reported in Hawaii in 1944. In September 2001, the Hawaii Department of Health was notified of an unusual febrile illness in a resident with no travel history; dengue fever was confirmed. During the investigation, 1,644 persons with locally acquired denguelike illness were evaluated, and 122 (7%) laboratory-positive dengue infections were identified; dengue virus serotype 1 was isolated from 15 patients. No cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever or shock syndrome were reported. In 3 instances autochthonous infections were linked to a person who reported denguelike illness after travel to French Polynesia. Phylogenetic analyses showed the Hawaiian isolates were closely associated with contemporaneous isolates from Tahiti. Aedes albopictus was present in all communities surveyed on Oahu, Maui, Molokai, and Kauai; no Ae. aegypti were found. This outbreak underscores the importance of maintaining surveillance and control of potential disease vectors even in the absence of an imminent disease threat.

Dengue↗
PubMed1993

Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) in dengue-infected patients.

Sensitive immunoenzymatic assays were used to study the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1 beta in sera from dengue-infected patients obtained during the 1989-1990 outbreak of dengue-3 in Tahiti, French Polynesia. The patients, both children (n = 47) and adults (n = 18), were clinically classified as having dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and graded according to the severity of illness (grade I = fever, grade II = fever with spontaneous hemorrhagic manifestations, grade III = circulatory failure, grade IV = deep shock). The serum samples were obtained from day 1 to day 10 after the onset of the disease. High levels of TNF-alpha were observed in dengue-infected children of all severity grades. The highest values of TNF-alpha were found before day 6 after the onset of the infection, these values decreased from day 6 to day 10. The highest values were observed in sera from grade III and IV patients. High values of IL-6 were observed in serum samples of grade I and II patients on day 1, which decreased on day 4, and by day 5 were similar to those obtained from 25 control children. In grade III and IV patients, the highest values of IL-6 were observed from day 3 to day 5 after the onset of infection; after day 5, these values were very low.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

A polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of Brugia malayi in blood.

There is need for sensitive, rapid, species-specific diagnosis of Brugia filarial parasites because traditional methods are tedious and time-consuming, with little guarantee of species specificity. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay was developed using the Hha I family of highly repeated DNA sequences from Brugia. The assay was tested on 124 human blood samples collected in a field study in Indonesia. These included 66 microfilaria-positive samples from patients in an area endemic for Brugia, 30 from healthy individuals from the same endemic area, and 28 from healthy individuals from a nonendemic area. Twenty-eight blood samples collected in a village in French Polynesia endemic for Wuchereria bancrofti, but not B. malayi, were also tested. The blood samples were screened using the traditional blood smear and membrane filtration methods, which served as the gold standards to which the PCR assay was compared. The samples were digested with proteinase K, extracted with phenol and chloroform, and dialyzed. A fraction of the dialyzed product was used in PCRs using Hha I-specific primers. The PCR assay correctly identified all of the microfilaria-positive samples as PCR positive and all of the nonendemic samples as PCR negative. Additionally, 26 of 30 samples from healthy individuals in the endemic area were also identified as PCR negative, while four were PCR positive. It is likely that these four individuals had very low-level or cryptic infections, and that the PCR assay detected circulating DNA released from dead filariae. The results indicate that the Hha I PCR detection system is rapid, species-specific, and sensitive.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Chemoprophylaxis of leprosy in the southern Marquesas with a single 25 mg/kg dose of rifampicin. Results after 10 years.

In 1988, a programme of leprosy chemoprophylaxis, employing a supervised, single 25 mg/kg dose of rifampicin, was implemented in the Southern Marquesas Islands. Of the 2786 inhabitants, 2751 (98.7%) were treated. In addition, 3144 South Marquesans living elsewhere in French Polynesia were administered the same chemoprophylaxis. During the following 10 years, seven leprosy patients were detected among those who had been administered chemoprophylaxis. Of these, two were very likely missed cases of leprosy, and cannot be considered a failure of chemoprophylaxis. The epidemiometric projection model, based on cases of leprosy observed in the Southern Marquesas during the 20 years preceding implementation of the programme, predicted that 17 leprosy cases could be expected in the South Marquesan population if no chemoprophylaxis were given. In fact, only five cases were detected in the treated population, a number significantly smaller than 17, suggesting that the chemoprophylaxis was 70% effective, assuming that no change of detection rate would have occurred without chemoprophylaxis. However, during the 10 years following implementation of the chemoprophylaxis programme, the detection rate in the Polynesian population that was not administered chemoprophylaxis declined by about 50%. Therefore, the effectiveness of the chemoprophylaxis was only 35-40%.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Significance of passive hemagglutination and its prospectives in lymphatic filariasis].

The authors analyze the data concerning 219 sera, that they have tested in passive hemagglutination, with as antigen a Dirofilaria immitis proteic extract, in French Polynesia. Besides its light sensitivity, this method does appear very interesting. It points out: --First, that there is a gaussian distribution of the results found at various dilutions, both by "filarian" and "non filarian" people. Therefore, this distribution is a feasible and practical parameter for evaluation of the Filariasis transmission in different populations. --On the other hand, that there is an inverse correlation between the presence of microfilaria in the blood and the level of immunological response for lymphatic Filariasis.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Survey of lymphatic filariasis on Ouvea Island in New Caledonia].

Several cases of Bancroftian filariasis were recently reported on Ouvea Island which is part of the archipelago of New Caledonia located in the south Pacific Ocean. Following these reports systematic screening was carried out in a group of 382 adult consultees at two medical dispensaries. Tests to detect microfilariae in the blood and antibodies in serum were performed at the Pasteur Institute in New Caledonia and the Malarde Institute in Papeete, French Polynesia, respectively. Of the two subjects with manifestations consistent with filariasis, one was seropositive but neither presented microfilariae. Overall 14 subjects (3.7 p. 100) presented microfilariae and 124 were seropositive (33.5 p. 100). The serologic index was significantly higher in men than in women (6.1 p. 100 vs 2.1 p. 100). Parasitic and serologic indexes were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in subjects living in the northern than southern part of the island. As in previous studies in New Caledonia, present data showed that Bancrofitian filariasis is asymptomatic on Ouvea Island. This finding contrasts with the symptomatic forms described on other islands in the south Pacific.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Mating rendezvous in monogenean gill parasites of the humbug Dascyllus aruanus (Pisces: Pomacentridae).

The gills of the humbug, Dascyllus aruanus (Pomacentridae), were infected by a monogenean genus Haliotrema at a high prevalence (83%) but with a low mean intensity (5.6 worms/fish). All the gill arches of 365 fish, caught on the fringing reef of Moorea Island (French Polynesia), were examined for parasites. Each hemibranch was divided into 12 subequal sections. Monogeneans showing microhabitat overlap were defined as couples. Hosts with low intensity of infection (fewer than 5 monogeneans per gill) were selected and couples were recorded. Among the 37 hosts harboring 2 worms on their gills, 18 fish were infected with these 2 monogeneans on the same gill side of the body; 50% (n = 9) of these harbored monogeneans within the same gill arch and 55% (n = 5) of these last fish showed individual parasites within the same section of the gill. In the case of hosts with few monogeneans (3 and 4 individuals; n = 37) on the same arch, more than 40% (n = 16) harbored worms in couples. There may be some chemical communication that allowed these monogeneans to migrate toward each other and thus enhance mating success. Mating rendezvous appears to be a more important factor than site location for these gill monogeneans.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

[Oral receptivity of Aedes aegypti formosus from Franceville (Gabon, central Africa) for type 2 dengue virus].

Dengue is widely distributed in the tropics but epidemic activity was rarely reported in Africa before the 1980's. In the past 15 years, increased epidemic dengue fever has been reported both in East and West Africa, raising concern about the ability of local populations of Aedes aegypti to transmit dengue viruses. Ae. aegypti is present in two forms in Africa: Ae. aegypti aegypti and Ae. aegypti formosus. This latter form, much darker, was not originally a local species but is now colonizing artificial breeding sites within cities. We have been able to demonstrate the oral susceptibility for dengue type 2 virus of Ae. aegypti formosus collected in Franceville, Gabon (Central Africa). However, these mosquitoes sampled exhibited lower infection rates than those of a control colony of Ae. aegypti aegypti originating from French Polynesia.

Aedes↗
PubMed2001

Plasma concentrations of sVCAM-1 and severity of dengue infections.

Adhesion molecules are essential for the immune response. They are involved in the regulation of cell-to-cell contact, thereby enabling leukocytes to communicate. Circulating forms of adhesion molecules are found in the serum of healthy individuals. Raised levels have been associated with disease severity in HCV and other infections and thus appear to be good markers of endothelial damage. The levels of soluble Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and of sP and sL-selectin in the plasma of children hospitalised for dengue in French Polynesia were monitored. Studies from the 1996/1997 dengue-2 outbreak, showed that levels of sVCAM-1 increase steadily during the febrile period, peak on day 7, and then decline relatively rapidly. Disregarding the time frame within the febrile period, sVCAM-1 levels were always higher compared to controls. There was a significant association between sVCAM-1 levels and dengue haemorrhagic fever, a severe manifestation of dengue virus infection characterised by plasma leakage. No association was apparent between sVCAM-1 levels and primary vs. secondary dengue virus infections. Levels of sP-selectin and sL-selectin were significantly higher in primary compared with secondary infection but were not different in patients presenting with plasma leakage. Lastly, sVCAM-1 levels were significantly higher in an outbreak of severe disease in 1989/1990 (dengue-3) when compared to a non-severe outbreak in 1988/1989 (dengue-1) and a mild outbreak in 1996/1997 (dengue-2). The results suggested that levels of sVCAM-1 production might prove to be a useful marker in the management of severe dengue.

Biomarkers↗