[Microscopy laboratories for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in Madagascar: quality control].

As part of the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP), a quality control of the slides (search of acido-fast-bacilli in the sputa) of the Treatment and Diagnosis Centers (TDC) forming the National Laboratory Network was carried out in 1996. 60 TDC of the 165 TDC (36%) had been controlled according to the system of double reading of the smears. The global concordance of the results in the 60 TDC is satisfactory since it was of 94%.

[Evolution of the Mycobacteria Laboratory of the Pasteur Institute of Madagascar from 1991 to 1994].

In 1991, the Laboratory of Mycobacteria was a small laboratory, part of the Clinical Biology Centre (CBC) of the Institut Pasteur de Madagascar: 656 pathological samples have been analysed for the account of the CBC and the National Control Programme activities. Within 4 years, the number of samples tested increased by more than threefold and the technical ability has evolved in an important way, specially for the identification and the antibiotic sensitivity testing. The scientific equipment have been modernized and the rooms surface increased by fourfold.

[National Laboratory for Mycobacterias. Evolution, missions and activities from 1991 to 1994].

The setting up of a new nationwide tuberculosis control programme allowed the creation of a National Mycobacteria Reference Laboratory. This latter originated from the small bacteriology laboratory of the antitubercular dispensary of the Institut d'Hygiène Sociale (IHS) and its activities increased tenfold within three years. Extension of rooms, a more numerous staff and the acquisition of a modern equipment explained those results.

[Peripheral lymph node tuberculosis in Djibouti].

153 well documented records, gathered in one year in a Tuberculosis Center, were studied. Adenoid localization represents on fourth of all tuberculosis, and 95% of all etiologies of peripheral adenopathies. Value of bacteriological tests is studied and compared to the one of histology.

[Mycobacteria encountered in Djibouti].

The authors studied 198 strains of mycobacteriae from different sources, but mainly from bronchial secretion and adenoid pus or poundings. Because the preponderance of peripheral adenoid tuberculosis, we might fear a focus of Mycobacterium bovis. But this study gives leave to state positively that Mycobacterium tuberculosis hominis is almost exclusively the responsible and consequent by that there is an human reservoir almost exclusive.