White piedra and Trichosporon species in equatorial Africa. III. Identification of Trichosporon species by slide agglutination test.

Fifty-two Trichosporon strains isolated from Gabonese female patients 15-60 years, were studied. The identity of these strains was established by two different methods: the method proposed by Guého et al. (1992), based on mycological criteria, and a slide agglutination method performed with monospecific antisera prepared in our laboratory.

White piedra and Trichosporon species in equatorial Africa. II. Clinical and mycological associations: an analysis of 449 superficial inguinal specimens.

Eighty-one of 449 Gabonese female patients examined were found to be positive for genitopubic white piedra. The association with trichobacteriosis is frequent (53 cases), and mostly seen with inguinal intertrigo. Fifty-two strains belonging to the genus Trichosporon were isolated from genital hairs as well as from inguinal intertrigo lesions.

[Cutaneous Alternaria infection occurring in the course of a treated pemphigus].

Alternaria is a very common fungus. Its pathogenic role in human pathology is mainly expressed by asthma. Cutaneous infection is rare and only about 70 cases have been described.

[Treatment of bilharziasis due to Schistosoma mekongi with praziquantel].

After a review of the mechanisms of anti-schistosomal activity of praziquantel and the treatment of Schistosoma mekongi with this drug, the authors report two cases of Schistosoma mekongi treated with praziquantel with failure. Rectal mucosa biopsies are performed and eggs are present. Light microscopic, electron microscopic and on ultra-thin sections examination of these samples don't reveal morphological alterations of Schistosoma mekongi eggs after treatment.

[Schistosoma mekongi bilharziasis along the Mekong River and its affluents, the Mun and Tonle Sap Rivers. General review].

First cases of Schistosomiasis in the South East Asian were described 30 years ago but the existence of a particular species in this area: Schistosoma mekongi has been discussed for a long time. During the last few years, emigration of Laotian and Cambodian people allowed a better knowledge of this affection. Through recent literature the authors make a restatement of the epidemiology, biology and treatment of this disease.

[17 beta-estradiol receptors in Schistosoma mansoni. Contribution to the explanation of the protective power of this hormone in Schistosoma mansoni bilharziasis in the mouse. Preliminary study].

According to some of our experiments, in adult Schistosoma mansoni, the existence of receptors able to bind the molecules of 17 beta-estradiol might explain the protective power of this hormone in the experimental Schistosoma mansoni parasitosis in the mice and in the hamster.

[Effect of 17 beta-estradiol, progesterone and testosterone on Dipetalonema vitae parasitosis in the castrated female golden hamster Cricetus auratus].

In Dipetalonema viteae filariasis of Cricetus auratus, it seems that the natural estrogenic hormon, the 17 beta-estradiol as well as the progesterone have a part in the protection observed in the females.

[Effect of the administration of estrogen-antiestrogen combinations on the experimental infection of the hamster with Schistosoma mansoni].

In the purpose of establishing if the antiestrogens may inhib the protective effects of the estrogens during an experimental infection with Schistosoma mansoni in golden female hamster, we have studied the following estrogen-anti-estrogen associations: 17 beta-estradiol + trans-tamoxifène, 17 beta-estradiol + trans-clomifène, hexestrol + trans-tamoxifène. The decrease of the number of worms in the animals under experiment shows that these associations still give a protective effect. This protection is however weaker than the one which is induced by estrogens administration only.

[Irregular anti-P1 allo-antibodies and sinensis clonorchiasis].

A parasitological and immuno-hematological study was undertaken simultaneously in fifty South-East asian refugees at the time of their arrival in France. --in this series the frequency of individuals having a P2 erythrocyte phenotype is 80%. --54 % of these immigrants were found to be carriers of Clonorchis sinensis, a parasite rarely found in Europe.

[Influence of synthetic estrogens on experimental Schistosoma mansoni parasitosis in hamsters: cis and trans clomiphene isomers].

Within the framework of previous investigations concerning the protective effect of estrogens during an experimental infection with Schistosoma mansoni in female hamster, the respective actions of the cis and trans forms of clomiphene have been studied. These two forms appear to be unable to assure a protective effect, the mean numbers of parasitic worms and the seric specific antibodies levels which have been observed in the treated animals do not significantly differ from those of the control group.

[Experimental Schistosoma mansoni parasitosis in golden hamsters. Effects on the intensity of parasitism, and on the rate of antibodies' circulation, after administration of estrogen, testosterone, or progesterone (author's transl)].

A reduction in the intensity of parasitism under the effect of an implantation of 20 mg of estradiol is observed again but such result is also obtained with testostérone administered in the same way and at the same dose. On the other hand, no significant variation in the number of parasites was observed in animals having received an implantation of 20 mg of progesterone. However, serological examinations showed that the animals treated with one of these hormones all have a specific antibody level higher than the untreated control group.

[A parasitologic survey conducted in Touraine (France) in a group of South East Asia refugees (author's transl)].

Forty refugees (23 from 5 lao families and 17 from 3 cambodian families) previously and routinely treated against intestinal parasites, underwent stools and serum controls: 77 p. 100 had still intestinal parasites but 61 p. 100 had a normal blood cells count without hypereosinophilia.

[Transfusional malaria. Another case (author's transl)].

Transfusional malaria is an unusual disease. Any fever, happening immediately after blood transfusions must evoke this diagnosis, confirmed by parasites detection in the blood. The treatment is rapidly efficacious.

[Influence of the sex of the final host on experimental Dipetalonema vitae filariosis in golden hamsters Cricetus auratus (author's transl)].

The authors have studied the influence of the sex of the host on experimental Dipetalonema viteae parasitosis in golden hamsters Cricetus auratus. The parasited hamsters are sacrificed fifteen days after testing for microfilarial count, and then the extent of the infestation is measured by counting the number of male worms and female worms. The average level of microfilarial count is significantly higher in male hamsters than in female hamsters.

[Effect of testosterone or progesterone implants on the intensity of experimental infestation with Schistosoma mansoni in the female golden hamster].

When administered in pellet form of 20 mg to castrated Golden female hamsters, testosterone leads to a decrease of the intensity of experimental infestation with Schistosoma mansoni. The same result is obtained when estradiol is used in place of testosterone under the same conditions. On the contrary, no statiscally significant decrease has been observed with progesterone.

[Influence of estradiol on the capacity to produce antibodies during experimental amebiasis of the female golden hamster].

During experimental tissular amibiasis, the level of circulating antibodies, as detected by indirect immunofluorescence, is lower in female castrated golden hamsters who have been implanted with a pellet of oestradiol than in castrated control animals. Antibodies are first detected in the serum twenty four hours after infestation and their level becomes maximal near the fourteenth day.

[Oestradiol does not modify the proportion between male and female S. mansoni worms in experimental infestation of the golden female hamster (author's transl)].

We describe here an experiment, the results of which confirm the protecting effect of hormone oestrogen during an experimental infection with Schistosoma mansoni in golden female hamster. Furthermore this experiment shows that the hormone oestrogene does not modify the sex-ratio of the worms.