Results of culture form colonoscopically obtained specimens for bacteria and fungi in HIV-infected patients with diarrhea.

Background: The aim of our study was to determine the diagnostic yield of culture for bacteria and fungi from colonic biopsy specimens in 290 consecutive HIV-infected patients with diarrhea.

Methods: During each colonoscopy, three biopsy specimens were homogenized and cultured on media for Salmonella and Shigella and for Campylobacter and Yersinia, on Loewenstein medium and on Sabouraud medium.

Results: Cultures were found positive for one (n = 32) or two (n = 5) infectious agents in 37 cases, i.

Treatment of non-meningeal cryptococcosis in patients with AIDS. Centre d'Informations et de Soins de l'Immunodéficience Humaine de l'Est Parisien.

Amphotericin B, alone or combined with flucytosine, is the reference curative treatment for neuromeningeal cryptococcosis associated with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Treatment of non-meningeal forms is less well standardized. Out of 75 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with cryptococcosis, 16 had no meningeal involvement.

[Cyclospora sp].

A few years ago, a new Coccidian, "Cyclospora sp', has been found in the stools of both immuno-competents and AIDS patients with diarrhoeal illness. The epidemiology, natural history and clinical manifestations of Cyclospora infection have been charted, but its life cycle has not been described yet. We present here 19 cases of Cyclospora infections diagnosed in our laboratories in the past two years.

[Microsporida microsporidiosis].

Microsporidia were infrequent in man until 1985. A new species, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, responsible for diarrhea, was described in AIDS patients in 1985. Little is known about the parasite; its diagnosis is difficult, and its incidence certainly underestimated.

[Visceral leishmaniasis in HIV infection. A totally opportunistic infection].

Visceral leishmaniasis occurring in immunocompromised patients, and in particular during HIV infection, has been described in recent years and differs from the usual Mediterranean kala-azar as encountered in France. In order to define the clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic features of the HIV-Leishmania spp. co-infection, we report 8 new cases and compare them with data from the literature.

Sexual stage development of cryptosporidia in the Caco-2 cell line.

We used the spontaneously differentiated human intestinal epithelial cell line Caco-2 to develop an in vitro model of Cryptosporidium sp. infection. The mean cell infection rate was 3% +/- 2%.

Onychomycosis and AIDS. Clinical and laboratory findings in 62 patients.

The results of a study on onychomycosis in AIDS related complex and AIDS patients presenting for dermatology consultation at an infectious diseases department are reported. The clinical results showed that most patients presented a proximal white superficial onychomycosis. The association with a clinical interdigital involvement was rare, but the association with a mycotic plantar keratoderma was more frequent.

[11 cases of isosporiasis (Isospora belli) in patients with AIDS].

The study of 11 cases of isosporiasis (Isospora belli) shows that this opportunistic coccidia, alone or with Cryptosporidium, causes severe prolonged diarrhoea which worsens the prognosis and evolution of AIDS patients. A low prevalence (0.7%) is found in subjects from tropical regions.

[Comparative study of the human basophil degranulation test and total and specific IgE levels in schistosomiasis. 54 cases].

In 54 patients (45 Africans and 9 West-Indians) we searched schistosomiasis and the presence of immunoglobulins E by different tests (total immunoglobulin E levels, measurement of specific IgE, human basophil degranulation test). In patients with an excretion of living eggs we observed 91.6% of positive responses for the II.

[49 cases of tinea of the scalp observed in a tropical disease clinic in Paris].

Tinea capitis among school children population is still a public health problem. We described 49 cases of tinea capitis that have been diagnosed at the out patient clinic of Claude-Bernard Hospital, Paris. 44 of them were recently immigrated african children.