[Followup of pregnant women in the context of malaria: two case reports].

Whether or not a pregnant women should travel to regions where malaria is highly endemic will always be open to question as no prophlaxis can guarantee complete protection in every case. No chemoprophylaxis is 100% effective or entirely without side-effects, particularly for pregnant women whose immune status provides a favourable environment for the emergence of this parasitosis. The advice given will depend on the country and the region, a possible resistance of the parasite to treatment, the season, the length and circumstances of the stay and individual factors.

A seroepidemiological study on toxoplasmosis.

Using the microparticle capture enzyme-immunoassay (MEIA) based on IMx technology (Abbott), we determined the current prevalence of toxoplasmosis in 784 pregnant women followed up during 1990, and in 1,839 randomly selected blood donors. They all came from the Brabant Wallon area and the South-East of Brussels. Specimens yielding low IgG immunity (6-15 units) [corrected], were further tested with a sensitive direct agglutination assay (Toxo-Screen DA, bioMerieux).

Primary infection of ascitic fluid with Clostridium difficile.

A case of a primary infection of ascitic fluid with a toxigenic strain of Clostridium difficile is described. The strain belonged to the serogroup H which is often implicated in pseudomembranous colitis. Nevertheless, our patient did not have any sign of colitis or diarrhoea before the ascitic infection.