Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after natural infection: insights from a study on Pasteur Institute of Tunis employees.

This study aimed to assess the kinetics of antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2, following natural infection in a cohort of employees of the Institut Pasteur de Tunis (IPT) and to assess the risk of reinfection over a 12-months follow-up period. A prospective study was conducted among an open cohort of IPT employees with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection that were recruited between September 2020 and March 2021. Sera samples were taken at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after confirmation of COVID-19 infection and tested for SARS-CoV-2-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to the spike (S-RBD) protein (IgG anti-S-RBD) and for neutralizing antibodies.

A Longitudinal Study in Tunisia to Assess the Anti-RBD IgG and IgA Responses Induced by Three Different COVID-19 Vaccine Platforms.

Background: Vaccination constitutes the best strategy against COVID-19. In Tunisia, seven vaccines standing for the three main platforms, namely RNA, viral vector, and inactivated vaccines, have been used to vaccinate the population at a large scale. This study aimed to assess, in our setting, the kinetics of vaccine-induced anti-RBD IgG and IgA antibody responses.

Immunogenicity of Mix-and-Match CoronaVac/BNT162b2 Regimen versus Homologous CoronaVac/CoronaVac Vaccination: A Single-Blinded, Randomized, Parallel Group Superiority Trial.

(1) Background: This study aimed to compare the immunogenicity of the mix-and-match CoronaVac/BNT162b2 vaccination to the homologous CoronaVac/CoronaVac regimen. (2) Methods: We conducted a simple-blinded randomized superiority trial to measure SARS-CoV-2 neutralization antibodies and anti-spike receptor binding domain (RBD) IgG concentrations in blood samples of participants who had received the first dose of CoronaVac vaccine followed by a dose of BNT162b2 or CoronaVac vaccine. The primary endpoint for immunogenicity was the serum-neutralizing antibody level with a percentage of inhibition at 90% at 21-35 days after the boost.

Incidence and risk factors of SARS-CoV-2 infection among workers in a public health laboratory in Tunisia.

The aim of this study was to measure the extent of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among workers at the Institut Pasteur de Tunis (IPT), a public health laboratory involved in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia, and to identify risk factors for infection in this occupational setting. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on IPT workers not vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Participants completed a questionnaire that included a history of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Healed Lesions of Human Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Caused By Do Not Shelter Persistent Residual Parasites.

In human cutaneous leishmaniasis (HCL) caused by () , the cutaneous lesions heal spontaneously and induce a Th1-type immunity that confers solid protection against reinfection. The same holds true for the experimental leishmaniasis induced by in C57BL/6 mice where residual parasites persist after spontaneous clinical cure and induce sustainable memory immune responses and resistance to reinfection. Whether residual parasites also persist in scars of cured HCL caused by is still unknown.

Intra-Specific Diversity of Isolates: A Key Determinant of Tunisian Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Clinical Polymorphism.

The clinical expression of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) caused by () parasites has a broad spectrum ranging from asymptomatic infection to self-limited cutaneous sores or severe disease. In concert with the host immune responses, the vector variability and the number of bites, genetic variation between isolates might impact on the clinical output of the disease. We investigated herein the intra-specific variability of field isolates independently of host or vector factors and then tried to correlate parasite variability to ZCL severity in corresponding patients.

Knowledge attitudes and practices toward seasonal influenza vaccine among pregnant women during the 2018/2019 influenza season in Tunisia.

Background: The uptake and acceptance of the influenza vaccine (IV) among pregnant women remain unknown in Tunisia despite the increased influenza-related complications and death. The present study aimed to assess the IV uptake and acceptability and to describe related knowledge and attitudes among pregnant women in Tunisia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 84 Tunisian healthcare facilities over a period of three months (from March to May 2019).

Influenza vaccination knowledge, attitudes, and practices among Tunisian elderly with chronic diseases.

Background: Generally, seasonal influenza does not cause severe infection in healthy adults, but for the elderly, an infection can pose a serious health concern. Although several measures can help prevent influenza, vaccination is considered the most effective. This study aimed to assess influenza vaccine uptake among elderly with chronic diseases in Tunisia during the 2018-2019 influenza season, and to identify knowledge, attitudes and barriers associated with influenza vaccine uptake.

Knowledge, attitudes and uptake related to influenza vaccine among healthcare workers during the 2018-2019 influenza season in Tunisia.

Background: The influenza vaccine (IV) is considered the most effective strategy to prevent seasonal influenza infection and annual vaccination of healthcare workers (HCWs) is recommended by the World Health Organization given their high mixing with patients. We assessed IV uptake among HCWs in the 2018-2019 season and explored their knowledge and attitudes regarding influenza immunization.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 150 representative Tunisian health facilities from March to May 2019.

Psycho-social impacts, experiences and perspectives of patients with Cutaneous Leishmaniasis regarding treatment options and case management: An exploratory qualitative study in Tunisia.

Although non-fatal and mostly self-healing in the case of Leishmania (L.) major, cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is mainly treated to reduce lesion healing time. Less attention is paid to the improvement of scars, especially in aesthetically relevant areas of the body, which can dramatically affect patients' wellbeing.

A prospective cohort study of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis due to Leishmania major: Dynamics of the Leishmanin skin test and its predictive value for protection against infection and disease.

Background: Leishmanin Skin Test (LST) is considered as a useful indicator of past infection by Leishmania parasites. However, the temporal dynamics of a positive LST under different epidemiologic scenarios and whether it relates to the protection against the recurrence of an overt disease are not fully documented.

Methodology/principal Findings: We report here on a population based prospective study conducted on 2686 individuals living in two foci located in Central Tunisia, to assess over a one-year epidemiologic season, the incidence of Leishmania (L.

Hepatitis C virus epidemiology in Central-West Tunisia: a population-based cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to assess the seroprevalence, viraemia and genotype distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a region in Central-West Tunisia. A door-to-door cross-sectional study was conducted on a randomly selected sample. A total of 3178 individuals aged 5 to 74 years and members of 935 families were investigated.

First Report on Natural Infection of with in a Classical Focus of in Tunisia.

In Tunisia, chronic cutaneous leishmaniasis due to is an important health problem. Its spreading has not been fully elucidated. Information on sandfly vectors, as well as their associated species, is of paramount importance since vector dispersion is one of the major factors responsible for pathogen dissemination.

Insight into the global evolution of Rodentia associated Morbilli-related paramyxoviruses.

One portion of the family Paramyxoviridae is a group of Unclassified Morbilli-Related Viruses (UMRV) recently recognized in wild small mammals. At a global level, the evolutionary history of these viruses is not properly understood and the relationships between UMRV and their hosts still remain largely unstudied. The present study revealed, for the first time, that Rodentia associated UMRV emerged from a common ancestor in southern Africa more than 4000 years ago.

Prevalence and determinants of Leishmania major infection in emerging and old foci in Tunisia.

Background: Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ZCL) due to Leishmania major (L. major) is still a serious public health problem in Tunisia. This study aimed to compare the prevalence and risk factors associated with L.

Involvement of different CD4(+) T cell subsets producing granzyme B in the immune response to Leishmania major antigens.

The nature of effector cells and the potential immunogenicity of Leishmania major excreted/secreted proteins (LmES) were evaluated using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healed zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis individuals (HZCL) and healthy controls (HC). First, we found that PBMCs from HZCL individuals proliferate and produce high levels of IFN-γ and granzyme B (GrB), used as a marker of activated cytotoxic T cells, in response to the parasite antigens. IFN-γ is produced by CD4(+) T cells, but unexpectedly GrB is also produced by CD4(+) T cells in response to stimulation with LmES, which were found to be as effective as soluble Leishmania antigens to induce proliferation and cytokine production by PBMCs from immune individuals.

Topical paromomycin with or without gentamicin for cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Background: There is a need for a simple and efficacious treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis with an acceptable side-effect profile.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, vehicle-controlled phase 3 trial of topical treatments containing 15% paromomycin, with and without 0.5% gentamicin, for cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major in Tunisia.

Heterogeneity of hepatitis B transmission in Tunisia: risk factors for infection and chronic carriage before the introduction of a universal vaccine program.

Unlabelled: A population-based sero-epidemiological study enrolled 9486 volunteers in two governorates, Béja in the north and Tataouine in the south of Tunisia, in order to assess the magnitude of HBV transmission heterogeneity between the north and the south and within the same governorate, as well as the risk factors associated with infection and chronic carriage.

Results: The overall prevalence of anti-HBc, HBsAg and chronic carriage was 28.5, 5.